India’s Role in Indian Ocean

India, in partnership with its Indian Ocean neighbors like Singapore and Oman, is hosting the Eighth Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) in Muscat, Oman. This conference is a significant event to discuss the future and strategic importance of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Indian Ocean’s Role

• The Indian Ocean has played a vital role in trade and cultural exchanges for centuries. It is named for India’s historical influence in the region.
• The Indian Ocean has been called "Hind Mahasagar" or "Indian Ocean" for millennia due to India’s central role in trade and culture.
• The Indian Ocean is unique compared to other oceans (Atlantic and Arctic), as it is not just a body of water but also a region rich in civilizational and cultural ties.
• Strategic Importance of the Indian Ocean:
  • The Indian Ocean is home to 26 countries, and its waters serve as a lifeline for many other landlocked nations like Nepal and Bhutan.
  • Economic and military power in the Indian Ocean is crucial for global trade and national security. It has historically been a key trade route for countries like India, connecting East and West through the maritime Silk Route.
  • The ocean's strategic importance has grown in recent years, with a focus on its potential to be a region of peace and cooperation amid rising geopolitical competition, especially between major powers.

India’s role in Indian Ocean

• From the first millennium, countries like India, with its merchant groups like Manigramam Chettis and kings like the Cholas and Pallavas, established vital maritime trade links with Arab lands and Southeast Asia (e.g., Philippines and Indonesia).
• Over time, India’s economic power waned as European colonial powers, especially the Portuguese, Dutch, French, and British, dominated the Indian Ocean. The British, despite being prominent seafarers, never built a robust naval or shipbuilding infrastructure in the region, a failure that persisted even after India’s independence.
• India’s Maritime Weakness Post-Independence: Post-independence, India’s naval and maritime capabilities were neglected, as the country focused on land-based military strategies. This led to India falling behind in key areas like shipbuilding and naval power.
  • Currently, India ranks 20th in global shipbuilding, holding just 06% of the global market share.

India’s Realization and Strategic Focus:

• India’s peninsular geography and reliance on maritime trade made it essential for India to prioritize its naval and maritime development.
• For decades, India did not fully recognize the potential of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). However, over time, India realized the region's growing importance.
• The Indian Ocean is now seen as a crucial part of India’s foreign policy. India’s trade, especially energy trade, passes through the Indian Ocean.
• Nearly 80% of India’s external trade and 90% of its energy imports travel through these oceanic routes.

Challenges in the Indian Ocean:

• The region faces numerous challenges, including:
  • Piracy and terrorism at sea
  • Illegal fishing, human trafficking, and arms running
  • Environmental challenges like rising sea levels
  • Disaster relief and humanitarian crises
• The region is also becoming a high-tech battleground with the proliferation of undersea communication cables, managed by companies like Huawei (China) and European firms. This indicates the geopolitical rivalry in the region, with major powers competing for influence.