Due to a convergence of interests with littoral nations, India plays a crucial strategic role in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). Geographical features, energy resources, commerce routes, and natural resources make this area vital to India and highlight its significance in the country’s maritime strategy.
Securing the Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs), which are essential for trade and energy security but are threatened by piracy, is India’s top priority in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
As a “first responder” and “preferred security partner” in the area, the Indian Navy contributes to regional peace through marine patrols and anti-piracy operations.
India’s proactive involvement in maritime security and collaboration with neighboring nations has greatly improved its standing as a preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). “India’s positive gestures have reaffirmed its suitability as a crisis-mitigator and promoter of regional cooperation,” Lieutenant Colonel Dhiraj Kumar said.
With a focus on three main goals—supporting neighbors, delivering humanitarian aid and enhancing maritime capacity, and avoiding hegemonic dominance—especially in reaction to China’s increasing influence in the region, this change reflects India’s shift from an inward-looking to an outward-looking strategy.
A wider marine perspective has resulted from India’s recent changes in how it approaches its key priority region in the IOR. This was made possible in large part by the 2015 Indian Naval strategic statement, which expanded India’s primary interest region. The need to protect critical sea lanes of communication (SLOCs), balance off China’s influence, and promote collaboration with regional allies in order to maintain a rules-based international order is what is driving this strategic change.
Patrolling large marine areas, handling regional emergencies, carrying out anti-piracy operations, and guaranteeing the security of important shipping lanes are all part of India’s responsibility as a net security provider in the IOR. The Indian Navy has played a significant role in these initiatives, receiving praise for its effective anti-piracy operations and its role as a first responder in
India’s strategic rivalry with China has an impact on its participation in the WIO as well. By increasing ties with tiny island states like Mauritius and Seychelles, India aims to offset China’s expanding influence. These collaborations support regional stability and security in addition to India’s strategic objectives.
By providing military training, defense gear, and security advisors, the Indian Navy has extended its reach beyond customary borders and established a security presence in the Southwest Indian Ocean.
By taking this proactive stance, India has established itself as a major supplier of maritime security and increased its influence in the area by utilizing its longstanding relationships with littoral countries.
Additionally, building strategic ties with important island nations is a significant component of India’s maritime diplomacy in the Southwest Indian Ocean. These connections are essential for showcasing India’s naval
Being a gateway between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, with the Mozambique Channel serving as a vital marine chokepoint, emphasizes the region’s significance.
In line with its larger strategic goals, India is working to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific by developing a strong naval force and promoting collaboration with countries such as the US.
With an emphasis on anti-piracy operations and an increase in its naval presence, India has moved from a non-aligned position to a more strategic participation in the Indian Ocean in recent years.
This change is a component of India’s larger regional vision, which is embodied in programs like the Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) strategy, which emphasizes regional stability and collaboration.
The alignment of India’s interests
