Mozambique gets two fast interceptor boats from India
New Delhi has upped engagement on defence with Indian Ocean countries in the backdrop of growing influence of China in the region.
Statesman News Service | New Delhi | July 31, 2019 4:00 pm
Defence minister Rajnath Singh, currently on a visit to Mozambique, has formally handed over two fast interceptor boats to the African nation for coastal surveillance as part of growing defence cooperation between the two countries.
The India-made boats were handed over at a ceremony at the Mozambican Naval Headquarters with the handing-over certificate being signed by K Natarajan, Director-General of the Indian Coast Guards and the Chief of Mozambican Navy. “Attended the handing over ceremony of two fast Interceptor boats to Mozambique in Maputo today. India is prepared to raise the level of our bilateral defence engagement and maritime cooperation with Mozambique,’’ the Defence Minister tweeted. A four-member Indian Coast Guard team will be assisting Mozambique with training, support for maintenance and operation of the two boats.
New Delhi has upped engagement on defence with Indian Ocean countries in the backdrop of growing influence of China in the region. Singh held talks with senior leaders of Mozambique on increasing defence cooperation between the two countries. After the talks, two Memoranda of Understanding – agreement on sharing white shipping information and co-operation in the field of Hydrography – were signed between India and Mozambique.
Advertisement
The Indian minister also announced assistance of communication equipment and highlighted the importance of India and Mozambique working together to prevent nontraditional threats like smuggling, terrorism, piracy and poaching and overall cooperation in the maritime domain.
Reiterating the call for urgent reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Parvathaneni Harish, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, has said that India has underscored equal geographical representation in the permanent seat category
Days after India strongly objected to a report in the Canada-based Globe and Mail newspaper that attempted to draw a connection between the death of NIA-designated terrorist Hardeep Nijjar to Prime Minister Narendra Modi