Operation Sankalp

Operation Sankalp
Government of India · GODL-India · source
Name	Operation Sankalp
Partof	Indian Armed Forces maritime security operations
Date	2019
Place	Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Red Sea
Result	Evacuation deterrence and protection of merchant shipping
Combatant1	India
Combatant2	Houthis
Commander1	Ministry of Defence (India), Indian Navy
Casualties1	None reported
Casualties2	None reported

Operation Sankalp was an Indian naval contingency deployment launched in response to maritime threats to Indian-flagged merchant vessels in the northwestern Indian Ocean in 2019. The operation involved carrier task groups, destroyers, frigates, and maritime patrol aircraft to deter hostile actions and ensure the safety of commercial shipping. It formed part of a series of Indian maritime security initiatives alongside exercises and missions directed by the Ministry of Defence (India) and the Indian Navy.

Background

In 2019 tensions escalated in the Persian Gulf region following incidents involving oil tankers and warships associated with Iran, Saudi Arabia, and United States naval assets. Attacks on merchant vessels in the Gulf of Oman and claims of responsibility by the Houthis in Yemen prompted concerns for seaborne trade routes used by India. India, reliant on energy imports from Middle East suppliers such as Iraq, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia oil, activated maritime contingency plans similar to previous evacuations like Operation Rahat and escort missions such as Mission Sankalp in other crises. The situation intersected with regional players including United Kingdom, France, CENTCOM, European Union Naval Force, and multinational coalitions operating near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and Strait of Hormuz.

Objectives and Planning

The stated objectives were to protect Indian-flagged and Indian-crewed merchant shipping, deter hostile actions by non-state and state actors, and ensure uninterrupted energy and trade lifelines to Mumbai and Visakhapatnam ports. Planning involved coordination between the Cabinet Committee on Security (India), the Ministry of External Affairs (India), Indian Coast Guard, and the Directorate General of Shipping (India). Strategic considerations referenced passages such as the International Maritime Organisation guidelines, precedents like Operation Atalanta, and rules of engagement established in consultations with navies of United Kingdom, United States Navy, Royal Australian Navy, and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Intelligence inputs were drawn from agencies including Research and Analysis Wing and Defence Intelligence Agency (India).

Deployment and Forces Involved

The deployment featured surface combatants from the Indian Navy such as guided-missile destroyers and stealth frigates, supported by INS Vikramaditya carrier assets, maritime patrol aircraft like the Boeing P-8 Poseidon, and aerial refueling and surveillance from Indian Air Force platforms. The Indian Coast Guard provided domain awareness assets and offshore patrol vessels for littoral operations near Gulf of Aden. Liaison was maintained with international task forces including Combined Task Force 151 and European-led missions. Command and control was exercised from naval headquarters in New Delhi with theater command at Southern Naval Command and Western Naval Command nodes, and diplomatic coordination through Indian missions in Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Doha, and Riyadh.

Timeline of Operations

Initial alerts were issued in late May and June 2019 after reported attacks on tankers transiting the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea. Rapid task group dispatch occurred within days, with surface units arriving on station to provide escort and conduct maritime domain awareness patrols. Throughout June and July 2019, warships tracked merchant traffic, issued advisories to shipping companies and masters under the Directorate General of Shipping (India), and conducted surveillance sweeps using airborne assets. Periodic liaison with multinational naval patrols enabled information sharing on suspicious contacts and aerial reconnaissance over suspected launch areas near Hodeidah and Al Mukha coasts in Yemen. As regional tensions evolved with diplomatic engagements involving Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps statements and U.S. sanctions and naval deployments, the operation remained on heightened alert until de-escalation measures and alternative escort arrangements reduced immediate risks.

Humanitarian and Diplomatic Impact

Beyond escort duties, the deployment reinforced India's ability to safeguard nationals and seaborne commerce, complementing humanitarian evacuation efforts such as those undertaken during crises in Iraq and Libya. Diplomatic outreach to governments of Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Iran aimed to reduce maritime friction and facilitate confidence-building measures. The operation underscored India's maritime diplomacy initiatives like Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) and cooperative efforts with Association of Southeast Asian Nations partners. It also impacted commercial insurers and shipping companies such as Maersk, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, and Mediterranean Shipping Company by shaping transit advisories and rerouting decisions.

Controversies and Criticism

Critics argued that the deployment risked entangling India in broader great-power competition involving United States and Iran, potentially compromising strategic autonomy advocated by officials in New Delhi. Commentators referenced instances where naval escort missions complicated neutral stances in regional disputes, citing debates in Indian strategic circles alongside perspectives from think tanks such as Observer Research Foundation and Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. Shipowners and maritime insurers raised concerns about operational costs and liability insurance premiums influenced by extended escort duties. Human rights and humanitarian organizations like International Committee of the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders voiced caution about militarized corridors near conflict zones affecting aid delivery to Yemen.

Category:Indian Navy operations