Indian Navy Bolsters Regional Influence Through Humanitarian Aid Focus

Event summary

  • The Indian Navy hosted the 9th IONS Conclave of Chiefs in Visakhapatnam on February 20, 2026, focusing on 'Maritime Cooperation for Humanitarian Support'.
  • Mission Sagar and Mission Sagar-II (launched 2020) delivered thousands of tonnes of essential supplies to multiple nations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Operation Samudra Setu (2020) demonstrated the Navy’s NEO capabilities, repatriating Indian citizens and others.
  • Recent operations like Operation Brahma (2025) and Operation Sagar Bandhu (2025) provided relief to Myanmar and Sri Lanka, respectively.
  • The Indian Navy deployed multiple ships, including INS Vikrant and INS Udaygiri, to deliver flood relief to Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah.

The big picture

India's increased focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations within the Indian Ocean Region represents a deliberate strategy to enhance its regional influence and project soft power. This approach leverages the Indian Navy's unique capabilities – mobility, logistical capacity, and self-contained relief platforms – to build goodwill and foster partnerships. The emphasis on HADR also reflects a recognition of the growing frequency and interconnectedness of natural disasters in the IOR, which pose significant economic and humanitarian challenges to the entire region.

What we're watching

Interoperability
The success of IONS will hinge on the ability of regional navies to standardize procedures and logistics, which will require sustained commitment beyond the conclave itself.
Resource Allocation
Increased HADR commitments may necessitate a reallocation of naval resources, potentially impacting other strategic priorities like maritime surveillance and power projection.
Geopolitical Leverage
India's humanitarian outreach will likely be viewed as a tool to expand its influence in the IOR, and competing powers may attempt to counter this through alternative aid programs.