INDIA’S MARITIME ROLE IN INDIAN OCEAN

Syllabus:

GS-3:

  • Internal Security
  • India and neighbourhood relations.

Why in the News?

  • The 8th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC), held recently in Muscat, highlighted India’s maritime security concerns and role in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
  • External Affairs Minister Jaishankar emphasized challenges such as the Middle East conflict, Houthi attacks on shipping routes, and Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea.
  • The forum focused on implementing SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), India’s maritime vision for regional cooperation.

Strategic Importance of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)

  • Vital to India’s Security: The Indian Ocean is India’s lifeline for trade and energy security, with 80% of its oil imports passing through these waters.
  • Lack of Regional Security Architecture: Unlike the Pacific or Atlantic, the IOR lacks a unified security mechanism, leading to fragmented cooperation.
  • Competing Geopolitical Interests: The region is witnessing rising competition between India, China, the US, and regional powers, complicating stability efforts.
  • Threats to Maritime Trade Routes: Piracy, illegal fishing, and geopolitical conflicts threaten freedom of navigation and regional trade.
  • Growing Chinese Influence: China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) investments in ports (Hambantota, Gwadar, Djibouti) increase its influence, challenging India’s dominance.

India’s Role as a Maritime Power

  • First Responder in the IOR: India’s swift humanitarian response during the 2004 Tsunami and crisis evacuations has built goodwill in the region.
  • Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA): India collaborates with Seychelles, Maldives, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka to monitor illegal activities and maritime threats.
  • Expanding Naval Diplomacy: The Indian Navy engages in joint exercises, ship visits, and security partnerships with IOR nations, strengthening India’s diplomatic influence.
  • SAGAR Vision Implementation: India’s maritime initiatives focus on security, economic development, and capacity-building in partner nations.
  • Balancing Hard and Soft Power: India must integrate military, diplomatic, and economic tools to enhance its maritime influence.

Enhancing India’s Maritime Strategy

  • Strengthening Naval Infrastructure: Investing in modern warships, aircraft carriers, and deep-sea capabilities will improve India’s power projection.
  • Boosting Regional Security Cooperation: India must revitalize IORA and BIMSTEC, ensuring greater participation and functional effectiveness.
  • Developing a Comprehensive Maritime Doctrine: A national security strategy integrating defense, trade, and diplomacy is essential for long-term maritime influence.
  • Leveraging Blue Economy Potential: India should focus on sustainable fisheries, deep-sea mining, and marine biotechnology to boost its economic and strategic presence.
  • Expanding Military-Diplomatic Coordination: A whole-of-government approach, with greater MEA-MoD collaboration, will ensure faster decision-making and response capabilities.

Maritime Diplomacy as a Tool for Regional Stability

  • Soft Power and Humanitarian Assistance: India’s disaster relief missions, such as post-Tsunami aid (2004) and evacuation efforts in conflict zones, have enhanced its regional image.
  • Naval Deterrence and Strategic Signaling: Frequent joint military exercises (Malabar, Milan) and patrol missions showcase India’s maritime strength.
  • Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs): Ensuring unhindered access to sea routes is crucial for India’s trade and regional security.
  • Combating Non-Traditional Threats: Piracy, drug trafficking, and illegal fishing require enhanced coast guard and naval coordination.
  • Expanding Multilateral Engagement: Engaging in platforms like QUAD, IONS, and ASEAN-led forums will solidify India’s role as a key maritime stakeholder.

Challenges Hindering India’s Maritime Aspirations

  • Weak Institutional Framework: Organizations like IORA, SAARC, and BIMSTEC remain ineffective due to bureaucratic inefficiencies and lack of strategic coordination.
  • Limited Naval Capabilities: Despite having the 4th largest navy, India lacks sufficient aircraft carriers, submarines, and amphibious capabilities for sustained maritime dominance.
  • Geopolitical Rivalries: The China-Pakistan nexus, increasing US influence, and Middle East instability pose challenges to India’s strategic ambitions.
  • Inadequate Military-Diplomatic Coordination: Poor MEA-MoD synergy delays crucial defense and security decisions impacting maritime strategy.
  • Climate Change and Security Risks: Rising sea levels, marine pollution, and overfishing threaten economic and security stability in the region.

Way Forward

  • Adopt a Proactive Naval Strategy: India must demonstrate military strength while fostering cooperation with IOR nations to maintain regional stability.
  • Enhance Strategic Partnerships: Strengthening ties with ASEAN, QUAD, and African coastal nations will bolster India’s maritime reach.
  • Improve Crisis Response Capabilities: Investing in disaster relief, humanitarian missions, and rapid-response naval units will solidify India’s “first responder”
  • Counter Chinese Expansion: India must offer viable alternatives to China’s debt-trap diplomacy by investing in regional maritime infrastructure.
  • Institutional Reforms in Maritime Governance: A dedicated maritime security agency, with direct coordination between navy, coast guard, and diplomatic bodies, is necessary.

Conclusion

India’s maritime strategy in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is critical for its national security, economic prosperity, and geopolitical influence. A coordinated approach involving the government, military, and diplomatic institutions will be essential to securing India’s interests and reinforcing its role as a unifier and leader in the region.

Mains Practice Question

  1. Examine the strategic significance of the Indian Ocean Region for India. Discuss the challenges India faces in securing its maritime interests and suggest measures to strengthen its maritime diplomacy. (250 words)