Round-Table Discussion with the US Air War College at the National Maritime Foundation, New Delhi

The National Maritime Foundation (NMF), New Delhi, held a round-table discussion with the US Air War College on Tuesday, 27th February 2024.  The American delegation consisted of four faculty members [Dr Chris Colley, Col Adam Hilburgh (US Army), Col Jeremy Farlaino (USAF), Capt Vikas Kumar (USAF)] and 13 student officers led by Lt Col Benjamin Craycraft (USAF).

At the outset, Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan, AVSM & Bar, VSM, IN (Retd), the Director-General of the NMF, delivered a presentation on India’s Approach to Maritime Strategy in the Indo-Pacific, with emphasis on India’s Desired End State; the Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) policy and how the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) gave it first-order specificity. This was followed by an explanation of India’s primary maritime interest of holistic maritime security; and its Strategic Geography as defined by the Indo-Pacific Region, with reference to its principal maritime objectives and strategies, and the approaches adopted toward their fulfillment, namely, those of multilateral constructs, the IPOI, minilaterals, the QUAD, and the proactive approach towards maritime connectivity.

Vibrant discussions were thereafter held on contemporary issues related to modernisation; self-reliance in defence; and the Indian Navy’s ongoing efforts to stabilise the West Arabian Sea/ Red Sea in order to ensure unhindered flow of shipping. The session ended with experience-sharing across domains and a vote of thanks for the continued association of the NMF and US Air War College for mutual enrichment in ideas related to maritime issues.

At the close of the discussion, the US Air War College delegation was presented with a set of the NMF’s capstone publication Maritime Perspectives 2023.