Operation Sankalp
India's maritime security operation
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Launched on 19 June 2019, Operation Sankalp primarily focused on guaranteeing the safe transit of Indian-flagged vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz amidst escalating security concerns in the area. The protection of India's commercial fleet and maritime commerce is emphasised as a significant goal within the Indian Navy's responsibilities. Due to the intricate nature of the mission and the global context in which Indian Naval vessels operate, Op Sankalp is being executed in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) through active engagement and meticulous coordination with the Indian Ministries of Defence, External Affairs, Shipping, Petroleum and Natural Gas, and the Directorate General of Shipping.
Background
The utilization of a blue-water navy is underpinned by characteristics such as operational reach, flexibility, and visibility. The activities undertaken by a country's naval forces to advance national interests reflect, in varying degrees, both broader strategic priorities and political objectives. Since 2008, piracy has emerged as a significant maritime security concern in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), contributing to the deployment of warships by a range of regional and extra-regional navies. Within this context, the Indian Navy has assumed a prominent role in maritime security operations and has sought to position itself as a ‘First Responder’ and ‘Preferred Security Partner’ in the IOR. Its deployments have involved a combination of surface vessels, maritime aircraft, and Special Forces, reflecting the range of capabilities available for addressing piracy and other non-traditional maritime security challenges. These activities form part of India's broader efforts to safeguard maritime interests and contribute to security and stability across the region.
The Persian Gulf is an important component of India's and West Asia’s maritime trade and energy security, given the scale of its economic relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. In FY2025-26, India's bilateral goods trade with the six GCC countries remained at approximately US$178.63 billion, comprising US$55.69 billion in exports and US$122.92 billion in imports. The UAE remains India's largest GCC trading partner, with bilateral trade of approximately US$101.25 billion, followed by Saudi Arabia at US$41.07 billion. These figures are consistent with FY2024-25, when India-GCC bilateral trade was valued at US$178.56 billion, comprising US$56.87 billion in exports and US$121.68 billion in imports. The composition of this trade also highlights the importance of the Gulf region to India's energy requirements. India's major imports from GCC countries include crude oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG) mainly from Qatar, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) primarily from the UAE, petrochemicals and other mineral fuels, these substantial energy and commercial flows pass through maritime routes linking the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Arabian Sea, making the security of these sea lanes directly relevant to India's economic interests. It was in this context that the Indian Navy launched Operation Sankalp in June 2019, deploying warships to the Gulf of Oman and the Gulf to reassure Indian-flagged vessels following maritime-security incidents in the region. The operation has subsequently remained part of India's presence in the area, including deployments intended to support the safe movement of Indian-linked commercial and energy shipping through the Gulf and its approaches.
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Early deployments
From June 2019 to May 2021, fleet of 20 Indian warships were deployed under Operation Sankalp to safeguard the journey of over 200 Indian Flag Vessels transporting more than 21 million tonnes of cargo in the IOR.
In November 2021, INS Trikand was dispatched to the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman under Operation Sankalp, an initiative by the Indian Navy to uphold a prominent vessel in the area, guaranteeing the unhindered and protected transportation of goods, fostering trust within the maritime community, and actively contributing to the overall security of the regional waters. The ship stopped at Manama and during its stay at the port, the personnel engaged with Bahrain's counterparts to enhance maritime security. Trikand, a cutting-edge frigate equipped with guided missiles and stealth technology, serves as a vital component of the Western Fleet. It operates under the command of the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, which is headquartered in Mumbai.
India enacted its anti-piracy legislation as the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act 2022, on 20 December 2022 criminalising maritime piracy and empowering the Indian Navy and other government agencies with the authority to respond to threats at sea. In 2024, the then Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R. Hari Kumar referred to the new law as a "great enabler" in the navy's anti-piracy success.
In regular circumstances, this deployment would have been considered as a standard procedure. Nevertheless, during the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the Indian Navy's capability to deploy its warships demonstrated their exceptional operational readiness and availability. This also highlighted the stringent protocols and mechanisms implemented by the Indian Navy to minimise the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on their personnel, thereby ensuring uninterrupted deployments and operations. Consequently, in addition to their continuous anti-piracy patrols and Op-Sankalp, the Indian Navy effectively executed numerous deployments and operations.
2023–24
On 14 December 2023, Operation Sankalp was re-initiated to ensure the security of the regional maritime domain due to the Red Sea crisis and sudden increase in marine pirate activities. The Indian Navy on 31 December 2023 said it had deployed P-8I Neptune and the SeaGuardian drones, following the distressed faced by two merchant vessels, MV Ruen and MV Chem Pluto which were targeted in the sea. MV Ruen was hijacked (later rescued by INS Kolkata) while MV Chem Pluto sustained drone hits eventually and making way to port. The Indian Navy deployed a large flotilla of destroyers to safeguard international security. The deployment into the Arabian Sea included missile destroyers, including INS Kolkata, INS Kochi, INS Mormugao, INS Chennai and INS Visakhapatnam, almost its entire modern destroyer fleet of its Western Fleet. INS Kolkata was deployed at the mouth of the Red Sea, INS Kochi on the south of Yemen's Socotra Island, INS Mormugao in the west Arabian Sea with INS Chennai in the central Arabian Sea. INS Visakhapatnam was also moved in a week later and was tasked to patrol the north Arabian Sea.
From December 2023 to March 2024, around 5,000 troops have been deployed at sea with over 450 ship days have been completed (using over 21 ships), and maritime surveillance aircraft have flown 900 hours under Operation Sankalp.
In 2024, as per a report, the Indian Navy deployed over 30 ships as Houthi militants targeted multiple cargo vessels in and around the Red Sea with drone and missile attacks. "The Navy responded to over 25 such incidents and safely escorted over 230 merchant vessels carrying around 90 lakh metric tonnes of cargo valued at over USD 4 billion", according to official data.
2025
With tensions arising in the middle east following a United States buildup of ships between December 2025 and March 2026, multiple Indian naval assets were deployed across the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea , Southeast Asia and the central Indian Ocean,aimed at boosting naval diplomacy efforts.
2026
While the Iran conflict begun, an Indian Navy destroyer and a frigate was kept deployed in the Gulf of Oman and the Gulf of Aden under Operation Sankalp. As on 2 March, India was "closely monitoring" the situation while the warships could be immediately diverted for HADR operations, as per a senior defence official.On 10 March, The New York Times reported that the Indian government was evaluating options to escort the Indian-flagged vessels that were stuck near the crisis-hit Strait of Hormuz. As of then, there were 36–38 such vessels with 1,100 sailors, all of which were safe with the crew members having sufficient provisions. The ships are complying to "enhanced safety protocols" including reporting to authorities at a higher frequency. Indian ship owners had requested to government for naval escorts. .
Unlike the passive monitoring protocols seen in previous years, the Navy implemented close-protection escorts for India-flagged Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and crude oil tankers. Through back-channel negotiations led by the National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, India may have secured an informal guarantee from Tehran for the safe passage of Indian vessels, provided they are escorted by Indian naval assets and do not carry coalition materiel. On 25 March, Operation Urja Suraksha was reported to have been initiated to secure oil supplies from the Middle East to India. The Navy provides critical precise instructions to each ship through the Iran-controlled route, closer to the Iran coast than the official shipping lanes.
India was also among the five nations, including China, Russia, Iraq and Pakistan whose ships were allowed to transit the Strait of Hormuz. This was announced by the Foreign Minister of Iran, Abbas Araghchi on 26 March.
On 27 May, INS Kolkata was deployed for patrols in the Gulf of Aden. The ship immediately launched an operation after suspicious movements around a merchant vessel using its integral helicopter prevented possible piracy incident when MV Mashallah 1 was targeted.
Achievement
Due to the impact made in addressing maritime challenges, preventing the resurgence of piracy, and significantly decreasing drug trafficking in the Indian Ocean Region, as well as in protecting India's maritime concerns, the Indian Navy's strategic response, creativity, and unwavering determination during the continuous maritime security operations under 'Op Sankalp' have garnered international recognition.
By the end of 2023, a total of 41 warships have been deployed by the Indian Navy to provide escort services for around 624 Lakh Tons of cargo carried by 503 Indian Flagged Merchant Vessels.
As of March 2024, the Indian Navy has demonstrated its dedication to guaranteeing the maritime safety and security by escorting about 15,000,000 Tg of vital commodities under transit in the region and has given over 450 merchant vessels confidence from being present in the IOR. It has a remarkable record of saving over 110 lives which includes 45 Indian seafarers. The Indian Navy has apprehended contraband and approximately 3,000 kilograms (6,600 lb) of narcotic drugs.
Around 23 warships has been deployed in the Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf region as of March 2026.