India recently handed over a submarine to Myanmar as part of a military campaign against its eastern neighbor. Strategic analysts believe New Delhi’s move is an attempt to counter China’s growing influence in Southeast Asia.
In announcing earlier this month that India will hand over the country’s first submarine to neighboring Myanmar, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said, “Maritime cooperation is part of our efforts to diversify and strengthen our engagement with Myanmar.” . . The submarine is a 3,000-ton, diesel-electric, originally Russian Kilo-class submarine that has been modified.
The attack submarine, UMS Minye Theinkhathu, renamed after a hero of Burma’s history, was unveiled during a Burmese naval exercise in mid-October and is capable of operating at depths of up to 300 meters below the sea.
The submarine is India’s first military resource to be offered to a foreign country and is part of New Delhi’s increasing defense cooperation with Burma as India attempts to curb China’s growing presence in the country. Burma is the gateway to the Bay of Bengal, a strategic shipping lane to the northeastern Indian Ocean.
The maritime border between India and Myanmar in the Bay of Bengal is 725 kilometers long.
Four years before India decided to hand over its submarines to Myanmar, Bangladesh, which shares a border with India and Myanmar, purchased two submarines from China. Beijing also helped Bangladesh establish a submarine base, financed the development of the Chittagong port, and established a deep-sea port in Kyaukphyu, Myanmar, in the Bay of Bengal.
India Feels Pressure from China
For New Delhi, these Chinese projects demonstrate China’s continued expansion of its maritime power among the Rim countries and force New Delhi to strengthen its partnerships with these countries in the region, analysts note.
Prakash Jha, professor of defense and security studies at O.P. Jindal Global University in India, said, “Myanmar wants to reduce its dependence on China militarily and economically, but in order to do that, they feel they have to have options. “
India had earlier also provided them with defense equipment, including non-lethal equipment such as naval surveillance aircraft and communications equipment,” he said. Recently, however, they have been looking for more advanced equipment. Therefore, the provision of submarines is part of India’s decision to deepen its cooperative engagement with Myanmar.”
Small Asian country seeks naval modernization
Myanmar’s acquisition of submarines comes at a time when smaller Asian nations, including Bangladesh and Vietnam, have continued to acquire underwater warfare capabilities in recent years as they seek to modernize their navies. This is seen as part of an effort by these export-dependent countries to ensure that sea lanes are open and accessible.
Jaha said, “Tensions on maritime borders have increased in recent years.”
He said, “These small countries now believe that the possession of submarines represents a technological upgrade and advancement of their navy and gives them the ability to strike.”
The website of Myanmar’s defense force commander-in-chief, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, says the submarine will enhance the country’s defense capabilities.
The website reads, “In order to create a more modern navy, we must be equipped with submarines.”
India’s foreign ministry spokesman Srivastava said India’s move is in line with India’s vision of “enabling our neighbors to build capabilities and achieve self-defense. Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane and India’s Undersecretary of State for External Affairs Harsh Vardhan Shringla have visited Myanmar this month.
Defense analyst Rahul Bedi said, “Seventy to 80 percent of global trade goes through the Indian Ocean, and China has invested in countries like Myanmar, Pakistan, the Maldives and Sri Lanka, which are all gateways to the Indian Ocean.” He said, “India’s investment in Myanmar is a major step forward.
He said, “India’s move to provide submarines to Myanmar is a small cog in the huge wheel of India’s dominance in this critical sea.”
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