Description: India has introduced the first three warships in the Project 17A stealth frigate initiative which aimed to embolden India’s maritime presence and strategic significance in the region. In the presence of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, the INS Surat, INS Nilgiri and INS Vaghsheer were introduced as India’s ultimate response for regional marine warfare self – reliance and defense leader. The warships would cohabitate with the Indian Bison Division of the military which emphasized the country’s unification as a regional military power.
Impact: With geo – strategic competition in the Indo – Pacific gaining traction, India is looking to establish itself as an independent player and directly counter China’s assertive approach toward dominance in the region. With strengthening their marine division of the military, India would establish itself as the regional leader among allies such as Japan, the US and Australia and play a pivotal role in further regional stability. China’s geopolitical omnipresence and activities on multiple fronts could be integral in their efforts to assert dominance as they face high levels of readiness and preparedness from India, the US, Japan and Australia.