Topics
INS Vikrant
IANS Last Updated at September 3, 2022 13:16 IST
https://mybs.in/2b0WqKJ
New Delhi, Sep 3: Several foreign envoys, who attended the commissioning ceremony of India's first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant in Kochi on Friday, have acknowledged the country's rise as a global power.
Hailing India's growing defence manufacturing prowess, the foreign ambassadors also committed to making stronger partnerships with New Delhi keeping in mind the fast-changing geostrategic situation as well as security concerns in the Indo-Pacific and the Indian Ocean Region.
Denis Alipov, the Russian Ambassador to India, highlighted not only the friendship between the two nations which has remained intact 'despite current difficulties and tensions in the world' but also that the warship has been developed with Russia's participation.
'Participated today in the commissioning of INS Vikrant by the Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India's first swadeshi aircraft carrier. A glorious moment for the country and its people. Russia is proud to be part of it. Jai Vikrant! Shano varuna!' tweeted Alipov.
The seasoned diplomat posted several photographs of the event held at the Cochin Shipyard before proceeding to visit Cochin University of Science and Technology to hold a discussion on the prospects of Russia-India collaboration in education and scientific research.
'It's a proud moment for India that they built an indigenous major aircraft carrier. India is moving towards self-reliance and has shown that it's moving fastly towards becoming a major global power. The world needs super strong India,' the Russian Ambassador told ANI later.
French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain congratulated India and said that Paris is already looking forward to seeing INS Vikrant sail together with the French Navy's flagship aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle in the Indo-Pacific.
'Congratulations, India, on commissioning IAC Vikrant and joining the club of nations capable of manufacturing aircraft carriers! France looks forward to seeing INS Vikrant sail together with Charles de Gaulle carrier in our joint actions in the Indo Pacific,' tweeted Lenain.
Having already vowed to make the India-France strategic partnership 'a force for global good', Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron have made it a point to extend the operational cooperation between the two countries in the Indo-Pacific region.
Both India and France have also been focused on partnering more strongly in the field of co-designing, co-development, and co-production of different defence equipment in India.
Commenting on a video of Barak 1 surface-to-air missiles (SAM) being test-fired from INS Vikramaditya, the Israeli embassy in India congratulated India on the commissioning of 'Made-in-India INS Vikrant' and said that it was 'excited to see the productive outcome' of India-Israel cooperation in the defence sector.
'Congratulations to our Indian brothers. Job well done! A small glimpse at India-Israel defence cooperation. United we will prevail,' tweeted Naor Gilon, the Ambassador of Israel to India.
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), in collaboration with the Indian industry comprising of private and public sectors including MSMEs, have jointly developed the Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM), a state-of-the-art missile system against aerial threats like fighter aircraft, UAVs, guided and unguided munitions and cruise missiles.
Alex Ellis, the British High Commissioner to India, tweeted a video of him from the flight deck of INS Vikrant and spotlighted that both India and the United Kingdom believe in the importance of the freedom of the high seas.
Our growing interactions are a testimony to the shared commitment to a rules-based international system, a belief in the values of open trade, and the importance of the freedom of the high seas – a right conveyed on all nations.
'Honoured to be present at the commissioning of INS Vikrant by Narendra Modi – a great day for Indian Navy and for open and free seas,' tweeted Ellis.
Last October, as the UK's Carrier Strike Group (CSG) led by HMS Queen Elizabeth sailed into the Bay of Bengal in a powerful demonstration of the UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the British High Commissioner mentioned that both the Indian and the Royal Navy are blue-water, multi-carrier navies, which places them in a very exclusive club.
Australia's High Commissioner to India, Barry O'Farrell also tweeted about his experience of seeing INS Vikrant closely in Kochi today.
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
–indianarrative
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.
We, however, have a request.
As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.
Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard.
Digital Editor
PREVIOUS STORY
NEXT STORY
Copyrights © 2022 Business Standard Private Ltd. All rights reserved.
Upgrade To Premium Services
Business Standard is happy to inform you of the launch of “Business Standard Premium Services”
As a premium subscriber you get an across device unfettered access to a range of services which include:
Premium Services
In Partnership with 
Dear Guest,
Welcome to the premium services of Business Standard brought to you courtesy FIS.
Kindly visit the Manage my subscription page to discover the benefits of this programme.
Enjoy Reading!
Team Business Standard
