Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, AVSM NM, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Western Naval Command (FOC-in-C West), addressed media representatives during the annual Navy Day press conference held at the newly inaugurated tower Sumeru at the Western Naval Command Officers Mess in Mumbai.
Navy Day, observed on December 4 each year, commemorates the Indian Navy’s decisive attack on Karachi during the 1971 Indo-Pak conflict, an operation that set the port ablaze and destroyed several enemy surface combatants.
During the briefing, Vice Admiral Swaminathan outlined the regional security challenges confronting India and emphasized the Western Naval Command’s continuous 24×7 deployment of ships, submarines, and aircraft to safeguard national interests and ensure maritime security. He detailed the command’s achievements over the past year, including Operation Sindoor, mission-based deployments, joint exercises with foreign navies, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and operations against narcotics trafficking and piracy.
The Commander-in-Chief underscored the critical link between India’s economic prosperity, strategic independence, and national power with maritime security. He stressed the importance of monitoring evolving geopolitical and geo-economic trends to protect the nation and its citizens.
Reaffirming the Navy’s vision, Vice Admiral Swaminathan described the force as a “Combat Ready Cohesive Atmanirbhar Indian Navy, Safeguarding Seas for a Viksit Samriddha Bharat.” He noted that the Navy continues to play a pivotal role in maintaining peace and stability in the region, positioning India as the First Responder and Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean Region.
The press conference highlighted the Navy’s operational readiness and its expanding role in regional security, reflecting India’s commitment to maritime strength and strategic autonomy.
