India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday the launch of two Indian-made warships and a submarine was key to its "quest toward self-reliance" as New Delhi bolsters its defense against regional rivals.

Indian Navy warships INS Surat, INS Nilgiri and INS Vaghsheer were commissioned at the Naval Dockyard here in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.

The launch underscores the importance of the Indian Ocean region, through which 95% of the country's trade moves.

The move underscores the importance of protecting the Indian Ocean region through which 95% of the country’s trade moves amid a strong Chinese presence.

India’s navy has launched a submarine, a destroyer and a frigate, underlining the importance of protecting its crucial Indian Ocean trade route amid a strong Chinese presence. The move came as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the Atlantic Ocean’s importance has shifted to the Indian Ocean region,

Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Wednesday the launch of two Indian-made warships and a submarine was key to its “quest towards self-reliance”. New Delhi is expanding its armed forces to upgrade its mostly Soviet-era weaponry and respond to what many in India see as a growing threat from neighbours.