The Strategic Importance of the Indian Ocean - Insights from the 8th IOC

Context

• India, in partnership with Singapore and Oman, is hosting the Eighth Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) in Muscat, Oman.
• Foreign ministers from around 30 countries are attending to discuss the region’s future.

Historical Significance of the Indian Ocean

• The Indian Ocean derived its name from the historical and civilisational influence that India wielded on the countries of the region.
• It served as a crucial trade route for Indian merchants (like the Manigramam Chettis and Nanadesis) and dynasties like the Pallavas, Cholas, and Andhras.
• Ancient texts like Kautilya’s Arthashastra highlighted the importance of maritime activities.
• Fa-Hien, a Chinese traveller, wrote in 415 CE that the ship that took him from Ceylon to Sri Vijaya (present-day Indonesia) had 200 merchants who professed the “Brahmanical religion”.
• The Indian Ocean enabled India’s economic dominance in the first millennium but was later controlled by European colonial powers.

India’s Neglect of Maritime Power Post-Independence

• The British, despite being naval powers, did not develop India’s maritime strength.
• After independence, India’s focus remained on land-based security, neglecting its naval potential.
• India ranks 20th in global shipbuilding with only 0.06% market share.

Importance of the Indian Ocean

• Cultural and civilizational connect:
  • Though discourse on the “Indo-Pacific” dominates the world today, it is a geo-strategic construct, where big power competition is omnipresent.
  • The “Indian Ocean” is a largely peaceful natural region connected by civilization and culture.
  • Vast expanses of the waters of the 3rd-largest ocean in the world touch the shores of 26 countries.
  • For many other landlocked countries like Nepal and Bhutan, the Indian Ocean remains a lifeline.
• Economic importance:
  • From the Persian Gulf to the Strait of Malacca, the Indian Ocean is the main trading artery for many countries in the world.
  • The Indian Ocean is a critical global trade route as it -
    • Handles 70% of the world’s container traffic.
    • Facilitates 80% of India’s external trade and 90% of its energy trade.
• Strategic importance:
  • The Indian Ocean today is a strategic space with increasing military and commercial activities.
  • The US and UK, with their Diego Garcia base, and France with Reunion Island, are already active in the region.
  • Also, China is investing heavily in the region to spread its influence.

Steps Taken by India to Enhance its Maritime Influence and Key Concerns

• Steps taken:
  • PM Narendra Modi nurtured the ambition of rising as an influential blue-water power and the voice of the Global South.
  • SAGAR Initiative (Security and Growth for All in the Region) was launched in 2015 to enhance India’s maritime influence.
• Key concerns:
  • Piracy, terrorism, illegal fishing, human trafficking.
  • Climate change, rising sea levels, disaster management.
  • Influence of Chinese companies like Huawei in undersea communication networks.

The Call for Regional Maritime Leadership

• According to Alfred Mahan’s theory, maritime supremacy in the Indian Ocean equates to global influence.
• The IOC serves as a platform for regional leaders to ensure that the affairs of this “region of peace” remain in their hands.
• Strengthening maritime cooperation is crucial for India to emerge as a dominant power in the Indo-Pacific.

Conclusion

• The peninsular character of India and the essential dependence of its trade on maritime traffic give the Indian Ocean a preponderant influence on its destiny. (KM Panikkar)
• India must enhance its naval capabilities and strategic outreach to secure its maritime interests.
• The IOC is a crucial step toward ensuring regional stability and asserting India’s influence in the maritime domain.

Q1. Why is the Indian Ocean strategically significant for India?

Ans. The Indian Ocean is vital for India’s trade and energy security, handling 80% of its external trade and 90% of its energy imports.

Q2. What is the SAGAR Initiative, and how does it shape India’s maritime policy?

Ans. The SAGAR Initiative (Security and Growth for All in the Region), launched in 2015, aims to strengthen India’s maritime influence and regional security cooperation.

Q3. How did colonial rule affect India's maritime power?

Ans. European colonial powers, particularly the British, prioritized land-based governance and neglected the development of India’s naval capabilities.

Q4. What are the major security and geopolitical challenges in the Indian Ocean Region?

Ans. Key challenges include piracy, terrorism, illegal fishing, human trafficking, climate change, and growing Chinese influence in maritime infrastructure.

Q5. What role does the Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) play in regional diplomacy?

Ans. The IOC serves as a platform for regional leaders to discuss security, economic cooperation, and maritime governance to ensure the region remains under their strategic control. 

Source:IE