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Context
India’s evolving maritime foreign policy is rooted in the principles of maritime security, economic connectivity, and strategic partnerships aimed at safeguarding its vast oceanic interests, promoting regional stability, and building a secure maritime environment. Indian sea transport handles more than 95% of the trade and it is important for growth in India.
Geopolitical and Security Imperatives
- Countering China: The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is expanding rapidly into the Indian Ocean via dual-use bases like Djibouti and Gwadar.
- Protetion of Chokepoints: Unhindered movement through the critical chokepoints in the Strait of Malacca, Bab-el-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz.
- Traditional Threats: Combating state-sponsored maritime piracy, maritime terrorism, and the trafficking of weapons or narcotics.
- Non-Traditional Vulnerabilities: Protecting the critical undersea fiber optic data cables which carry more than 95% of the world’s digital communications.
Economic and Resource Dimensions
- Trade Dependence: More than 90% of the volume of trade and more than 70% of value of India’s trade is transacted through the sea lanes of communication.
- Energy Security: India imports more than 80% of its crude oil requirements, the vast majority of which arrives via oil tankers.
- Blue Economy: The exploitation of enormous economic opportunities in sustainable deep-sea mining, offshore wind and marine biotechnology.
- Fisheries Management: Safeguarding the livelihood and regulating the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of millions of citizens living in the coastal areas from illegal fishing.
India’s Strategic Frameworks
- SAGAR Doctrine: Realization of the vision of ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’ and India’s emergence as a preferred security partner.
- Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI): Inaugurating joint benchmarks on aspects of maritime ecology, disaster risk reduction and management.
- Net Security Provider: Deploying Indian Navy assets for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) across the littoral footprint.
- Project Mausam: Resuming old linkages of history, culture and economy through Indian Ocean world in opposition with other infrastructure networks.
Institutional Pluralism and Alliances
- The Quad: Enhancing strategic cooperation with the United States, Japan and Australia for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
- IORA & Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): Promoting the building of a consensus in the region on maritime safety and environmental issues.
- Minilaterals: Expanding functional security triads such as the India-France-Australia or India-Italy-Japan dialogues.
- Island Diplomacy: Promoting strategic partnerships and upgrading infrastructure access for critical island countries, such as Mauritius, Seychelles and Maldives.
Way Forward for India
- Naval Budgeting: Hike in capital budget allocation for Indian Navy for speeding up modernization and move towards a strong Indian Navy of 175 ships.
- Choke-Point Control: Improving military facilities on the Andaman & Nicobar Islands to control the eastern approach to Indian Ocean.
- Commercial Shipping: Building a merchant marine fleet for the domestic economy to lessen its economic exposure in times of global supply chain disruptions.
- Port Connectivity: Forging the way towards a world-class port-led development through the Sagarmala Project.
Conclusion
Foreign policy cannot be looked at purely from a continental prism in India. It will be a balance between managing land borders and a robust and visionary maritime strategy that will be the determining factor in India’s future as a global power.
Source: The Hindu
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