NEW DELHI, Feb 14: India called for an alliance of navies to boost security at sea at its first naval summit on Thursday with nations that have a stake in the busy maritime lanes of the Indian Ocean.

Twenty-six representatives of navies from countries including Australia, Egypt, France and Sri Lanka are attending the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, seen by experts as an effort by New Delhi to assert its strategic presence.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, launching the two-day event, said regional cooperation would help combat piracy and terrorism. “Recent years have seen a rise in crimes such as terrorism, smuggling, including of narcotics, arms and weapons, and piracy and robbery,” he said.—AFP