Indian Ocean Region: Opportunities and Challenges

General Studies Paper-2

Context

• The 48th Annual Conference on Oceans Law & Policy (COLP48) was held under the theme “Developing World Approaches to Ocean Governance: Perspectives from the Indian Ocean Rim”.

About 48th Annual Conference on Oceans Law & Policy (COLP48)

• This is the first time in the nearly five-decade history of COLP that the conference is being hosted in the Indian subcontinent.
• The conference is organised by the Stockton Center for International Law, U.S. Naval War College and the Gujarat Maritime University, with support from the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• Organizer: Traditionally organized by the Center for Oceans Law & Policy at the University of Virginia School of Law (USA).
• Objective: To promote dialogue on legal and policy issues related to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), maritime boundaries, freedom of navigation, and sustainable use of marine resources.
• Participants: Government officials, representatives from international organizations (like IMO, ISA, ITLOS), naval/maritime experts, energy and shipping industry leaders, and scholars.

India outlined the five priority areas for ocean governance from a developing world perspective:

• Ensuring livelihood and food security through sustainable fisheries and agriculture.
• Deepening regional cooperation rooted in South-South solidarity among Indian Ocean Rim nations.
• Integrating traditional knowledge and participatory governance with modern science.
• Promoting climate resilience and ecosystem-based approaches to safeguard biodiversity.
• Mobilising innovative finance and building capacity for ocean research, technology, and governance.

Indian Ocean Region

• The Indian Ocean covers approximately one-fifth of the total ocean area of the world.
• The Indian Ocean is bounded by Iran, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh to the north; the Malay Peninsula, the Sunda Islands of Indonesia, and Australia to the east; the Southern Ocean to the south; and Africa and the Arabian Peninsula to the west.

Significance of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)

• Geostrategic Importance: The Indian Ocean is the third largest ocean, linking the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
  • It is home to crucial maritime chokepoints — Strait of Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandeb, Malacca Strait, Lombok Strait — which together handle a bulk of global energy and trade flows.
  • The IOR acts as a bridge between the East and the West, making it a central theatre for power competition among India, China, the U.S., and other major players.
• Economic Significance: The region carries nearly 50% of global container traffic and 80% of seaborne oil trade.
  • It is a hub of blue economy activities: shipping, fisheries, seabed mining, and tourism.
• Energy Security: The IOR is the lifeline of global energy flows: oil and gas from West Asia transit to East Asia via its sea lanes.
  • Countries like India, China, Japan, and South Korea are energy-import dependent, making stability of the IOR vital.

Why has the focus on IOR been increased recently?

• Rise of New Economies: India and China’s emergence has revived trade networks in IOR and the region is becoming a new economic growth centre.
• Maritime Security Threats: Piracy (especially near Somalia) threatened global shipping lanes and led to increased efforts to secure Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs).
• Indo-Pacific Construct: The Indo-Pacific combines the Indian and Pacific Oceans into one strategic theatre and highlights the centrality of IOR in shaping new global maritime order.
  • This geographical reimagination enhances IOR’s visibility in global diplomacy and security.
• Implications for Global Order: Control over the IOR can shape:
  • Trade flows (especially oil & gas),
  • Strategic maritime chokepoints (like the Strait of Hormuz, Malacca, Bab el-Mandeb),
  • Military posturing and base logistics.

Challenges in IOR

• Expansion of Chinese Naval Power in IOR: Increased naval vessel deployments in the region in terms of both number and duration.
• Maritime Domain Awareness Activities: Deployment of Chinese research and survey vessels to gather sensitive oceanographic and marine data under the guise of scientific research.
  • Piracy hotspots near the Horn of Africa and in the Malacca Strait threaten shipping.
  • Terrorism, arms smuggling, and trafficking networks exploit porous maritime borders.
• Strategic Port Development Near India: China is actively involved in developing ports and infrastructure in littoral states of the IOR, including those close to India’s maritime boundaries.
  • The objective aligns with China’s long-term goal of becoming a maritime power.

India’s Strategic Responses

• Diplomatic and Security Leadership: India positions itself as first responder in disasters.
• India is a preferred security partner in HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief), Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), and development.
• Launch of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth for All in the Region) reflects India’s strategic rebranding in the IOR.
• India earlier resisted external major powers’ presence, but now embraces partnerships with like-minded countries.
• Naval Modernisation and Indigenous Development: India is modernising naval capabilities:
• Commissioning indigenous warships (e.g., INS Vikrant, INS Visakhapatnam).
• Boosting maritime domain awareness and power projection.
• This strengthens India’s force posture and maritime deterrence in the IOR.
• India’s Response and Regional Diplomacy: India is working with regional partners to raise awareness about the long-term implications of Chinese infrastructure projects.
  • Emphasize the risks to internal and regional security from China’s military use of these assets.
  • India on Militarisation of the IOR: India asserts that Militarisation of the Indian Ocean Region is not desirable and will adversely impact security in the Indian Ocean and the wider Indo-Pacific.
• This reflects India’s stance against military usage of Chinese-funded infrastructure in the IOR.

Conclusion

• For India, the IOR is not merely a neighbourhood but a strategic imperative central to its national security, economic growth, and global leadership ambitions.
• Initiatives such as Act East Policy, Indo-Pacific Vision, and Blue Economy strategy reinforce India’s centrality in the IOR.