New Delhi, Nov. 9 -- When nations prepare for conflict, they frequently pretend to be preparing for peace. India's ongoing Trishul military exercise, a large-scale tri-service simulation spanning from Gujarat's deserts to the seas off Sir Creek and into the Arabian Sea, is being portrayed as a routine operation. Routine, like most things in the security world, may be seen from different perspectives.

Observers observe that Trishul, which involves land, air, and naval forces across a thousand-kilometer front, is the most ambitious joint exercise since Operation Sindoor. On the surface, it represents military modernization and readiness. But beneath that surface is a silent message about intent and hierarchy, a reminder of who controls th...