Int’l power rivalry playing out in the region

International power rivalry is playing out in the Indian Ocean region, India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said yesterday, adding that a strong naval presence in the key trade route was his country's biggest priority.

While Singh did not name any country, analysts say that China has been a security concern for India since ties nosedived in 2020 after 24 troops died in clashes along their Himalayan frontier.

The UK and the US also have a joint military base in the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia.

Chinese and Indian troops have pulled back from two face-off points after a deal was struck in October, but India's army chief told reporters this week that "a degree of standoff" still persists.

"A large part of the world's trade and commerce passes through the Indian Ocean region. Due to geo-strategic reasons, the region is also becoming a part of international power rivalry," Defence Minister Singh said.