Aug. 27: India has a blue-water Navy, Indian Navy Chief, Admiral Sureesh Mehta, stated on Thursday. Speaking to reporters just four days ahead of his retirement as the Navy chief, Admiral Mehta said, "We have a capable blue-water Navy."
A blue-water Navy refers to a Navy that can operate far away from home and which is able to protect itself from sub-surface, surface and airborne threats along with a logistics capability and reach to operate on the high seas at considerable distances from home.
The Navy Chief spoke about the goodwill visits of Indian ships both to south-east Asia and East Asia on one hand and to Europe, including Russia on the other and said this had helped to "improve the mobility of the Navy" in a situation where the "security environment is fragile".
In response to another question, Admiral Mehta said that while India had a no nuclear first-strike policy, India had "credible nuclear deterrence" and that if any other nation launched a nuclear attack on India, that nation would have to face the consequences which would be more than they can pay.
Asked about his opinion on whether India needs a Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) who would be hierarchically above the three service chiefs, the Navy Chief said, "We will certainly need a CDS (in future)", but pointed out that the Chief of Staffs Committee — comprising the three service chiefs — is "managing very well". the Navy chief also spoke about the necessity of a CDS in future since it would be difficult for a service chief to devote so much of time (for duties as CDS) away from his duties as the chief of that service.
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