Indian warships in the Gulf on standby for humanitarian operations

India is closely monitoring the evolving security situation in parts of West Asia following the recent escalation of tensions, with Indian Navy ships deployed in the region under Operation Sankalp placed on standby for possible humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations.

A senior defence official on Monday (March 2, 2025) confirmed that developments are being tracked closely and updates are being shared with the concerned departments for further direction.

“Under Operation Sankalp, two Indian Navy ships (a frigate and a destroyer) are already deployed in the Gulf of Aden and the Gulf of Oman. They have been deployed for anti-piracy operations and the safety of merchant vessels since 2019. If required, these ships could be utilised for HADR operations. The Navy has prior experience in such missions,” the official said.

The deployment under Operation Sankalp was initiated to safeguard Indian-flagged vessels and ensure maritime security in the region amid rising threats to commercial shipping.

The official also stated that INS Surat is currently in Bahrain as part of a regional maritime security engagement.

PM chairs CCS

On Monday (March 1, 2026), Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), the country’s highest decision-making body on security and strategic affairs. The meeting reviewed the conflict in West Asia and its implications for India.

The meeting was attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Top officials briefed the committee on the prevailing regional dynamics and assessed their impact on India’s strategic, economic and diaspora interests..

India has historically leveraged its naval presence in the region for evacuation and relief missions during crises, and officials indicated that contingency planning remains in place should the situation warrant further action.