The Indian Navy’s Operation Sankalp has provided safe passage to an average 16 Indian-flagged merchant vessels in the Gulf region everyday, an official statement said.
About Operation Sankalp:
It was started in June 2019 after there were explosions on board two oil tanker ships in the Gulf of Oman amid increased tensions between Iran and the U.S.
Since then, an Indian Navy ship with an integral helicopter embarked has been continuously deployed in the north-west Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf.
It showcase presence, instil confidence in Indian maritime community and provide assistance to Indian-flagged merchant vessels.
Why Operation Sankalp?
It ensure safety of India's Mercantile Marine in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
India is dependent for about 85% of its demand for oil on imports.
In 2019-2020, around 62% of India’s oil imports valued at approximately $66 billion came from the Gulf region.
For the same year, India’s exports and imports from the region stood at around $51 billion and $108.2 billion, respectively.