Modi aboard INS Vikramaditya: Diplomacy or show of strength?

After taking a deep plunge into foreign policy on the very first day of taking over as Prime Minister on 26 May, Narendra Modi is all set to make his maiden foray into defence matters as well as defence diplomacy when he embarks the Russia-made INS Vikramaditya in Goa on Saturday, 14 June and dedicate to the nation the latest aircraft carrier inducted into the Indian Navy. The Prime Minister had expressed keenness to get on board INS Vikramaditya, the second aircraft carrier in service after INS Virat. Incidentally, India is the only Asian power currently to have two aircraft carriers in active service, though China is working on two more aircraft carriers after commissioning its first aircraft carrier Liaoning on 25 September, 2012. [caption id=“attachment_1569409” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Prime Minister Narendra Modi[/caption] The Saturday’s event, the first time when Prime Minister Modi will be on a military platform, will also give him an opportunity to do a bit of defence diplomacy as several senior Russian diplomats and officials would be present on the occasion. Besides, the event has been consciously planned four days before the Russian strongman Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin comes calling to New Delhi. The Prime Minister would inevitably be sharing his experiences on board INS Vikramaditya with Rogozin when he meets him, possibly on 19 June. Modi would be embarking the ‘carrier at sea’ by helicopter for a ‘Day at Sea’ with the Western Fleet and would witness a host of exercises by the frontline warships and aircraft of the Indian Navy. According to the defence ministry, Modi would be received at INS Hansa (Naval Air Station at Goa) by the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral RK Dhowan and a 150-men ceremonial Guard of Honour would be presented to him on arrival. During the day, the Prime Minister would witness ‘Air Power Demonstration’ by various naval aircraft including MiG 29K, Sea Harriers, P 8 I Long Range Maritime Patrol Anti-Submarine Warfare aircraft, TU 142M, IL 38 SD, Dorniers, Kamov and Sea King helicopters. The Prime Minister would also watch high speed maneuvers by Western Fleet ships including aircraft carrier INS Viraat, Delhi class destroyers, Talwar class frigates and shall also witness the take-off and ‘arrestor wire landing operations’ and high speed low level operations of MiG29 K integral fighters on board the flight deck of INS Vikramaditya. INS Vikramaditya is India’s largest warship and virtually a 20-storeyed floating city with 22 decks. The fully stocked and equipped 284-meter long aircraft carrier can sustain itself at sea for an uninterrupted period of 45 days. The warship was commissioned on 16 November, 2013 by the then defence minister AK Antony in a Russian shipyard during the minister’s official visit to that country. The 44,500 tonne warship is equipped with MiG-29K naval combat aircraft along with Kamov 31 and Kamov 28 anti-submarine warfare and maritime surveillance helicopters. Modi’s move to embark INS Vikramaditya is a well-choreographed one and aimed at showcasing his persona as a strong leader to the world. This would be his first brush with defence matters and the first defence-related visit. But many more such visits are in the pipeline to different parts of the country. Modi’s visit to Siachen Glacier, Ladakh, Rajasthan, Punjab and key China-specific Indian defence installations in eastern and northeastern India would be worked out in close coordination between the PMO and the defence ministry after the Modi government is through with the Budget Session of Parliament. By then India would have a full-fledged Defence Minister. One should expect the Modi government to have a deep focus on strengthening India’s defence capabilities vis-a-vis China. The government has already announced its decision to fast track clearances for roads and military facilities along the 4057-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and decided to give fast-track approval for construction of roads within 100 km of LAC. The next big task before the Modi government will be the raising of a new mountain strike corps to be headquartered in Panagarh, West Bengal. It will have to be seen how quickly Modi moves on this $11 billion China-specific project. The writer is a Firstpost columnist and a strategic analyst who tweets @Kishkindha.