As ships from various continents line up in the backdrop of the Gateway of India in Mumbai, the International Fleet Review is the most spectacular show of maritime diplomacy in the history of Independent India.

To be reviewed by President K R Narayanan on February 17, over 20 ships and 30 countries are participating in the event. Several chiefs of naval staff will also be present. The city streets will witness a colourful parade, consisting of several navies of the world, while street corners will see naval bands in action.

Marking the high point in the navy's ongoing attempts at expanding co-operation with the navies of the world, the Fleet Review is being touted by the naval establishment as a show of peacetime naval capabilities. The navy believes its unique capability to sail into international waters, meet and greet other navies in a matter of hours make an event like the Review a proud display of its growing influence.

Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sushil Kumar, in an exclusive interview with Special Correspondent Josy Joseph discusses the significance and aims of the Review and its importance in India's growing naval aspirations.

What do you aim to achieve through the Fleet Review?

The aim of the International Feet Review is to further spread our message of the role that the Indian Navy is trying to depict for itself. The Indian Navy is a stabilising force in the region, we want to create harmony in the region, we want to ensure that this region remains free of conflict, free of tension, and tranquil. This is our goal, our desire.

In furtherance of this, goodwill becomes an important element of our doctrine. To create goodwill, co-operation, understanding between the navies of the world there are several measures which are in the framework of maritime diplomacy. And these include goodwill visits by our ships abroad, exchange visits, joint exercises, and get-togethers such as Milan, which is a get-together of the navies of the region -- Southeast Asia. We have it in Port Blair and Cochin.

The International Fleet Review accordingly is the high point in our maritime diplomatic effort. You can consider this as the most important and the most significant endeavour in that direction.

Has there been any precedent for the present Fleet Review? What is unique to it?

That is what marks it out as a landmark event. In the past we have had local reviews, fleet reviews held purely internally, our own ships of the navy and coast guard. But never before has India staged a maritime event of this nature where international navies participate. It is a multinational event that is why it stands out as perhaps the most significant endeavour by the Indian Navy. It is a very major maritime effort.

We are extremely proud of INS Delhi, Mysore and Mumbai. They are among the most powerful ships in the world today.

Now as you know the number of countries that have accepted to participate is 30 with as many as 20 sending their ships. What is also significant is that we have as many as 16 chiefs of foreign navies visiting us, from all the major maritime countries of the world, like UK, Australia and South Africa. These are all important implications that there is now a greater understanding of maritime affairs between navies, especially between our navy and the navies of the world.

Are there similar reviews around the globe? Have Indian ships participated in any such event?

Most of the major maritime countries conduct events of this nature. Recently America conducted a fleet review in New York harbour, and they called it the Millennium Review. Our ship, INS Mysore, took part in it. They had as many as 13 countries. We have more.

One of the reasons why we have been able to organise this event with such a large participation is because we have taken two years in doing so. It has been a long run up for us. For the past two years we have been building on it. As you know the theme for it is 'Building Bridges of Friendship.' The word 'bridge' is synonymous with -- apart from the normal bridge -- 'ship.' So when there is a congregation of so many ships it is also signifies that navies of the world are getting together. We chose this theme keeping that in mind -- bridges of friendship.

For a common man, what is a fleet review? What is its significance?

A fleet review has several facets. One, it is a display of your own maritime capability, which showcases your maritime phase. India is a maritime country and within India we have to showcase this aspect and the navy is an important ingredient in that.

Internationally, it extends to other countries. The opportunity to come together. It has a facet within the country, it has a facet outside the country. It has in this day and age, a means of conveying all around that one has to operate together, one has to remain together because security is everybody's business. And today in the information age, in the age of globalisation, security has become everybody's business.

So the navies of the world can have an understanding since we are always in an international medium unlike the army and the air force. Navies always operate in an international medium, we have an opportunity to engage with other navies. So this gives us an excellent opportunity for the Fleet Review.

You rarely hear of events of this nature being conducted in the army or the air force because it is not easy to bring armies together, or air forces together. But navies because of our natural medium, has an international medium, the moment we sail out we are in international waters.

All the ships are coming from far corners of the globe. They are sailing to us. You don't expect the armies to march together. When navies meet, the occasion is ceremonious, there is an air of formality, there is an air of warmth and friendship. This type of camaraderie has a peculiar bonding at sea, which a mariner knows, he understands, because there is a brotherhood at sea. So we take full advantage of this. It is a bonding of the maritime fraternity. And the navies have always taken the lead in this because navies are the primary force at sea.

How far has the prevailing national sentiment in the wake of the Gujarat earthquake affected your plans for the Review?

In keeping the sentiments of the day in mind, keeping in view that we have recently had to face a very serious tragedy in Gujarat, we have cut out what was an event which was celebratory in nature. It was a cultural show, a carnival display. This event was to be staged at Chowpatty Beach, it was going to be open to the public, but we have decided to cancel it.

Conflict prevention is the order of the day. The navy's doctrine is to ensure that there is no conflict.

We have also cancelled the fireworks display at the Beating Retreat, because that again may have conveyed the wrong meaning. The other events we have retained are all formal events, ceremonious, they are military events, they are all part of a parade. The Fleet Review in effect is a naval parade. It is not an occasion for frivolous celebration. It is a serious, solemn, sombre event which is full of ceremony and has a military aspect to it. It has its own sombre moments, like the Beating Retreat, which has a very solemn character. And the seminar of course, which is an intellectual event.

What would be the kind of Indian presence in the review?

We are putting some of our major frontline ships. Since we had to accommodate quite a few of the foreign ships, we are holding back some of ours. Most of ours will be exhibited.

Recent years have been witnessing a very focussed thrust on maritime diplomacy, visiting diverse countries and hitting ports such as Shanghai. How has the maritime diplomacy helped in expanding India's traditional diplomatic forays?

In the past also we did carry out these goodwill visits. It is not that they were any less. What has happened now is that the medium of communications like your rediff.com is so brisk, so all pervasive, spread so widely, there is more knowledge about it, more exposure about it. In the past being a silent service we did carry out all these, but we never got so much publicity. Now it is coming out in the open.

You are right in one perspective. We have become more focussed, because the world has become conscious of one thing: We have to reduce tension, we have to ensure that there is no conflict. Conflict prevention, in fact, is the order of the day today. And it is part of our doctrine. The navy's doctrine is to ensure that there is no conflict. So we have to prevent conflict.

One of the important ways to do this is by maritime diplomacy. If you can create understanding and cooperation rather than have tension, you have achieved your aim. If the navy can contribute towards that in a forceful and vigorous manner.

Our goodwill visits have been more focussed. We have sent our ships to various corners, we have sent them to the West -- to America, the China Sea, all the countries of the region. Basically to send the message that we are bringing goodwill. It is not power projection any more, it is the projection of goodwill that we are interested in.

What are your immediate plans in expanding maritime diplomatic efforts?

We have a long term plan. We programme things in a three-year basis. We have a very structured programme, where we take into account every country of interest.

Any pathbreaking visits in the immediate future? Probably one to Pakistan? And what further activities are you planning with the Chinese navy?

Chinese ships are visiting us in May. They will be doing exercises with us. These exercises may be for the first time, but they have visited us in the past also. And we have visited Chinese ports. In fact, we have very good relations with the Chinese navy. We hope to carry on with that.

Will the International Fleet Review be a regular, probably an annual, event?

No way. The Fleet Review is a major event that comes in a cycle of every decade. It is a major event that requires two to three years of planning. It can't be conducted at such frequencies. Perhaps in a period of 10 years. We are conducting one after 1989, it is almost 12 years. Normally fleet reviews may be possible in five years time, but an International Fleet Review requires a lot of planning, depending on the situations, the circumstances. I am sure in course of time, another one will be planned in years to come.

The Chinese have visited us in the past. And we have visited their ports. We have very good relations with the Chinese navy. We hope to carry on with that.

What has been the recent pride of the navy, recent acquisitions and inductions, that you plan to exhibit?

What we are really proud of is our indigenous productions. And they will all be on display -- the three of the Delhi class, INS Delhi, Mysore and Mumbai. We are extremely proud of what we have built ourselves, home-grown products as we say. They are among the most powerful ships in the world today. We will have them on display, along with the Brahmaputra class, and the Godavari class. These are all our frontline war ships.

What are the immediate strategic plans of the navy?

Our most immediate plans are to build three more of the Delhi class. And to modernise our existing fleet of submarines, ships and aircraft.

What are the major challenges at sea which you need to tackle in co-operation with the neighbouring navies?

Our co-operation is basically aimed to see that there is no misadventure in the waters of our concern. So with countries that we share a common interest, we would like to have a mutual participation against such events that are creating unlawful activities like gun running, piracy, smuggling, narcotics. These are things that have disturbing features. Because they lead to activities which ultimately disturb the peace and prosperity of the region.

How grave are these threats?

As in the rest of the world, they are also steadily growing in our region. But we are keeping a very robust presence and strong surveillance so that they are curbed.

Lastly, why did you not invite the Pakistan navy for this show of friendship?

That is a decision by the government. We have not been able to invite them for this international review.

Design: Dominic Xavier

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