Recently, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) 2024 in New Delhi and emphasised that India’s vision is based on Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR). He stated, “India has consistently advocated for peaceful resolution of disputes and has aimed to facilitate cooperation among nations in the Indo-Pacific region.”


The development also becomes significant in the backdrop of a recent agreement between the U.K. and Mauritius, with the former ceding the sovereignty over the Chagos Islands in favour of Mauritius and Deigo Garcia remaining under the United States as its military base. Mauritius and the UK have acknowledged India’s role in reaching this political agreement in their joint statement.
But here the important question is: why are the countries in the Northeastern and Northwestern parts of the Atlantic so interested in the Indian Ocean? And the competition for the Indian Ocean is not restricted only to these countries. In reality, it is a complex web of conflicting interests among several global powers. The region also experiences pre-existing international tension, rivalry, and conflict, with challenges that have both local and global implications. Let us understand various dimensions:
Why is the Indian Ocean geopolitically so sensitive?
The Indian Ocean witnesses the presence of disproportionate powers like India, China, the US, UK, and France on the one hand and Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Mauritius, the Seychelles, and Myanmar on the other. This difference in power takes an ugly yet interesting shape when larger powers try to increase their sphere of influence.
India-China Dynamics
India shares historical ties with the Indian Ocean rim countries. Countries like Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and the Maldives are known to inhabit people of Indian origin. India meets its trade demands mostly through the Indian Ocean (more than 80% by volume and value). Coastal communities are dependent on littoral waters for fisheries as well as aquaculture.
Similarly, the Indian Ocean sea lanes that provide routes for importing energy from Middle Eastern and African countries are crucial for China’s growth also. Chinese aggressive moves in the South China Sea as well as in the Indian Ocean are clearly visible. Its ‘Debt-Trap Diplomacy’ in Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port, ‘String of Pearls’ policy, and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) are the most prominent examples of this.

India and China are well-known competitors when it comes to economy as well as military. Be it the Galwan standoff in 2020-21 or recent controversy regarding renaming of certain mountain peaks in Arunachal Pradesh by India or continuing issue of trade deficit with China and consequent anti-dumping duties by India, India-China relations clearly make the Indian Ocean region a ‘hotbed of geopolitics’.
Other major powers:
The U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet is headquartered with the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in Bahrain and routinely participates in joint military exercises. The US also maintains a military presence through its base on Diego Garcia Island. West Asian countries like U.A.E are growing their presence as a business hub with African countries. The recent Israel-Hezbollah war and its association with Lebanon, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the US, and Russia have further increased the tensions and instability in the region. Russia, with declining US involvement in West Asia, is trying to increase its influence in the region. It also has alliances with China and India through non-Western frameworks such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and BRICS.

Figure: sovereignty disputes in the Indian Ocean regions.
What are the other transnational issues that make this region extra sensitive?
China-India dynamics are not the only factor that makes the region a ‘geopolitical hotspot’. There are many transnational concerns also, like drug smuggling, arms peddling, maritime piracy, and human trafficking. The region is bordered by two notorious illicit opium production areas: the “Golden Crescent” (Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan) and the “Golden Triangle” (Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos).

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) noted that the first half of 2020 saw a nearly 40% increase in reported acts of piracy and armed robbery in Asia.
The Indian Ocean is home to three main choke points: the Strait of Malacca, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb. Because these choke points are so important to international trade, even a limited disruption could have drastic impacts on global transportation. Take, for example, the March 2021 blockage of the Suez Canal. Similarly, Iran has frequently used its sovereignty to threaten the Strait of Hormuz in response to sanctions imposed by other countries.
Why is the Indian Ocean so significant for India?
First, the geostrategic location of the Indian Ocean connecting East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa gives India an additional edge. Second, India’s 7517 km long coastline, Chinese unilateral attempts to alter the status quo, and 80% of India’s trade by value and volume flowing through the Indian Ocean make it the top priority for India’s geopolitical interests. Third, a lot of Indian investments are there, like the Sagarmala project, the SAGAR initiative, Chahbar port, the Ashgabat agreement, the IMT project with Myanmar and Thailand, the INSTC corridor, etc., revolving around the region. Fourth, the region is rich in resources, including fisheries, oil, gas, and deep-sea minerals like polymetallic nodules. At the same time, it also offers opportunities for offshore wind energy, tidal energy, and wave energy. Desalination plants can offer some solution to India’s growing water demands. Fifth, the Indian Ocean is the fastest warming ocean in the world, making India vulnerable to multiple disasters like coastal flooding, tropical cyclones, marine heatwaves, and loss of marine biodiversity. Sixth, for maritime security, we have not forgotten the Mumbai Taj attacks and the route that the terrorists took!
What is India doing, and what can be a way ahead for India?
India needs to adopt a multipronged strategy to deal with all these issues. Multi-alignment and strategic autonomy should be the key drivers of India’s outlook in this regard.

First, India’s participation in a series of summits, including QUAD, SCO, BRICS, and G7, exhibits an internationalist foreign policy that must continue. Second, both the QUAD and AUKUS represent increasing U.S. presence in the Indo-Pacific, which strengthens India’s position against China. However, India must balance these alignments with its longstanding principle of strategic autonomy and non-alignment. Third, India needs the support of Indian Ocean Rim countries (IORA) as well as small island states. Their real importance can be assessed through the recent development that India has recently built a naval base with a major airstrip and a jetty on the Agaléga island of Mauritius. Fourth, India should expand its influence on the eastern end of the Indian Ocean region. There might be times when ‘deterrence by denial’ and ‘deterrence by punishment’ are used as a way to disrupt the Chinese movement in the ‘Indo-Pacific’ region.
Conclusion
We must understand the fact that, due to its strategic location, India has the advantage over all other players in the region. Repeatedly, India has played a pivotal role in this region, especially during disasters and crises. India’s strategic focus in the Indian Ocean will determine not only its national security but also its ability to navigate a rapidly evolving global order. The balancing act between major global powers such as the U.S., China, and Russia is an intricate dance of diplomacy.
The critical questions remain: Can India maintain its strategic autonomy while strengthening alliances and ensuring the stability of the Indian Ocean region? The future of India’s Indo-Pacific policy will rest on its ability to uphold its principles of peaceful dispute resolution, counter external threats, and lead in areas such as the blue economy. There are the pressing issues that India’s policymakers must address as they chart a course for a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
Credits & References :
- https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2023/06/mapping-the-indian-ocean-region?lang=en
- https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rajnath-singh-indo-pacific-dialogue-9603736/
- https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/competition-indian-ocean#chapter-title-0-7
- https://www.mea.gov.in/distinguished-lectures-detail.htm?852
- https://maritimeindia.org/data-as-a-facilitator-in-maritime-risk-profiling-of-the-western-indian-ocean-wio/
- https://www.asiapacific.ca/publication/balancing-tides-indias-competition-china-dominance-indian
Insightful..
Thankyou Shakshi. Keep reading 🙂