India, Indonesia to boost anti-piracy cooperation
By IANSMonday, January 10, 2011
NEW DELHI - Cooperation between India and Indonesia on maritime security and intelligence sharing on anti-piracy operations is set to get a major boost during navy chief Admiral Nirmal Verma’s four-day visit to the Southeast Asian nation.
Verma left New Delhi Monday and will call on Indonesian ministers and military commanders during his visit, a navy spokesperson said.
Verma will call meet Indonesian Defence Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy Admiral Soeparno, Minister for Legal, Political and Security Affairs Air Chief Marshal Djoko Suyanto and the Commander-in-Chief of the Indonesian National Forces Admiral Agus Suhartono, the spokesman said.
During his trip the Indian admiral will visit various facilities of the Indonesian Army, navy and air force and will be visiting Bandung, Bali and Jakarta.
The Indian Navy and its Indonesian counterpart have a longstanding working relationship with high levels of mutual cooperation and understanding fostered through regular coordinated patrols and exercises.
Consistent information sharing on matters pertaining to maritime security also contributes significantly towards the healthy relationship. The two navies also cooperate in intelligence sharing particularly with regard to anti-piracy operations.
Coordinated patrols in the Indian Ocean are conducted twice a year wherein ships from the two navies patrol the International Maritime Boundary Line between India and Indonesia for two to three weeks.
“The Indonesian Navys motto in Sanskrit Jalesveva Jayamahe meaning ‘Victorious on the Sea’ bears testimony to a 2000 year old historic and cultural link between India and Indonesia,” the navy spokesperson said.
