Time for Military Justice Reform? Experts Call for Overhaul of India's Court Martial System

By Rear Admiral Dhiren Vig (Retd)

NEW DELHI: India's military justice system, long regarded as a cornerstone of discipline within the Armed Forces, is facing renewed calls for reform amid concerns over procedural shortcomings, judicial delays and the need for greater transparency in court martial proceedings. The military legal framework operates under a distinct set of laws designed to ensure swift disciplinary action and maintain operational readiness, morale and discipline among service personnel....more

India Needs National Maritime Commission to Safeguard Strategic and Economic Interests: Experts

By Rear Admiral Dhiren Vig (Retd)

NEW DELHI: The growing instability in West Asia and the increasing weaponisation of maritime choke points have renewed calls for India to establish a National Maritime Commission (NMC) to strengthen maritime security, streamline governance and accelerate the country’s blue economy ambitions. Strategic analysts and maritime experts argue that recent geopolitical developments, including disruptions to oil and gas supply routes in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), have exposed vulnerabilities in India’s maritime preparedness and highlighted the urgent need for an apex-level maritime body....more

India Signs Rs 1,900-Crore Deal To Lease 2 MQ-9B Sea Guardian Drones

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Defence has signed a contract with has signed a contract with US defence major General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) for the leasing of two MQ-9B Sea Guardian High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for the Indian Navy for a period of 30 months. The contract is valued at approximately Rs 1,943 crore. It was signed in the presence of Additional Secretary and Director General (Acquisition), Department of Defence, A. Anbarasu, at Kartavya Bhawan-2 here on Monday....more

Mecca Pact Raises New Questions Over Regional Military Blocs

Maj Abhinay Dogra

NEW DELHI, Sept. 7: A new military understanding involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey is raising questions about the future balance of power in Asia and the Middle East.

The agreement, referred to as the Mecca Pact, is being viewed by its proponents as a framework for closer military cooperation among the three countries. Critics, however, fear that it could encourage the emergence of competing regional military blocs.

The development has particular significance for India, Israel, Greece and the United Arab Emirates. All four countries have strong strategic and economic interests in the region.

The emerging alignment could also push other regional powers to reassess their security partnerships.

For India, the question is whether closer defence cooperation with Israel, Greece and the UAE should now move to a more formal level.

Supporters of such an approach argue that a coordinated security framework could provide a counterweight to any new military bloc. It could also deepen cooperation in defence production, intelligence, technology and research.

But a formal military alliance would carry its own risks. Regional blocs can create sharper divisions. They can also make local conflicts harder to contain.

The issue is therefore not simply about creating another alliance. It is about preventing a regional security competition from turning into a cycle of escalation.

Turkey's past military support for Pakistan has already highlighted these concerns. During previous periods of India-Pakistan tensions, Ankara's position drew attention in New Delhi. Indian officials and security analysts have closely watched Turkey's growing defence relationship with Pakistan.

The larger geopolitical picture is also changing.

Military cooperation is increasingly being linked to economic partnerships, defence manufacturing and technology. Countries are looking to build their own strategic networks rather than depend entirely on traditional alliances.

For India, this trend presents both a challenge and an opportunity.

New Delhi has expanded defence cooperation with several countries over the past decade. India has also increased collaboration in defence research, manufacturing and technology.

@ Maj Abhinay Dogra is a veteran of the Indian armed forces and currently works in the corporate world.