Describing West Asia as part of India's "strategic neighbourhood," home to four million Indians and important source of energy, India's Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Suresh Mehta, emphasised the need to "take this cooperation beyond just bilateral defence and economic ties". On a visit to the United Arab Emirates, Admiral Mehta said regional security forum like Western Pacific Naval Symposium have made progress over the years (India has Observer Status) and a similar forum comprising Gulf littoral states is at "a preliminary stage" that will get some concrete shape by the year-end.
During his three-day visit, the first by an Indian Naval Chief, Admiral Mehta met top brass of the UAE armed forces and discussed "collaborative cooperation and energy security", officials said on Thursday.
Speaking at the Indian Business and Professional Forum in Dubai on Wednesday, Admiral Mehta said ensuring regular supply of energy, especially fossil fuels, will be key to a higher growth of the Indian economy.
"The Indian economic boom puts an additional responsibility on the Indian Navy to be more capable of maintaining security over it's sea front," he said.
