Introduction

The Indo-Pacific region is a vast maritime zone where the interests of many players are engaged: India, Japan, France and the United States as well as the medium and smaller powers like Australia, Indonesia and South Africa, there are stakeholders from beyond the region too. In the recent years, China has done its territorial expansionist agenda, which is a concern for both India and the United States for long-term commitment towards Asia, as well as limitations of existing multilateral institutions. Indeed Indo-Pacific is emerging as the new and expanded theatre of great-power contestation.

India has always been championing the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) idea, initiating forums like the Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) and the Indo-Pacific Initiative (IPOI). It engages with its Indo-Pacific partners either bilaterally or on plurilateral and multilateral platforms, in a multitude of spheres including maritime security, blue economy, maritime connectivity, disaster management and capacity and port building.

To promote its strategic interests in the Indian Ocean, India launched the SAGAR vision in 2015. On 4 November 2019, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the IPOI at the East Asia Summit in Bangkok. The main objective of the IPOI is to ensure the safety, security and stability of the maritime domain and do that seven pillars have been laid out.

The concept of blue economy was stated by Gunter Pauli in 2010 book-The Blue economy 10 years, 100 innovations and 100 million boys. It is defined by the World Bank as the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihood and jobs and ocean health ecosystem. It is referred to as a marine economy in the literature, the concept is at nascent stage and is yet to be encapsulated in a comprehensive definition from an operational perspective. It is the decoupling of socio-economic development from environmental degradation.

Ocean economy or blue economy also means that the ocean resources are used as inputs to virtually start the production process. It is in this high backdrops it is sustainable use of ocean resources for economic the production process. It is in this high backdrop it is sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, imposed livelihoods and jobs and ocean ecosystem health. Basics of ocean economy also include facets like post-shipment management, marine ICT. It encompasses of Renewable energy, Fisheries, Maritime transport, Tourism, climate change and waste management. SAGAR is successfully blending Green Theory along with cooperation focused in Maldives, ASEAN countries. The Sagarmala Programme is a flagship initiative by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and waterways, the scheme supports various port infrastructure projects, coastal development and connectivity enhancements. Financial assistance is provided to state/UT Governments for projects like coastal berths, road and rail connectivity, fish harbours, skill developments, cruise terminals, and Ro-Pax ferry services. As of 26 July 2024, 130 projects with a total allocation of Rs.3,714 crore have been sanctioned.
 

Vision of India’s Maritime Diplomacy

India’s maritime legacy is as vast and dynamics as its 7,500km coastline, which anchors 12 major ports and 200 minor ones. Positioned along the world’s busiest shipping routes, India is not just a key trading hub but a rising global power and rising maritime giant. In 2023, the nation contributed around 16% of the global growth and according to some estimates, it is on course to become the third largest economy within the next three years. As India ascends the global stage, its maritime sector emerges as a linchpin for commerce, connectivity and international cooperation. There are various steps taken by Government of India in the recent years to improve the blue economy which are:

-Deep Blue mission: The union government in budget 2021 had announced the deep blue ocean mission to harness and develop technologies to harness the living and non-living resources from deep oceans.

-India-Norway Task force on blue economy: It seeks on strengthening bilateral diplomacy, it intends to manage the ocean resources in an eco-friendly manner.

-SAGARMALA: It seeks to develop smart ports and integrate modern technologies for development of ports which will in turn develop India’s maritime economy.

-National Fisheries Policy: Different support schemes for fishermen is provided under the scheme like PM-Matsya Sampada Yojana.

Maritime Diplomacy is the way of managing one’s economic relations using oceanic waters as a source for major activities primarily taking using Navy, coast guard, marine policies for security of national interest. Maritime diplomacy is the form of diplomacy which is primarily focused on those countries surrounded with oceans if we go according to the simplistic definition of a layman, however maritime diplomacy is more deep rooted and is operational since time immemorial in every country Maritime Diplomacy is not just limited to naval diplomacy, it also implies diplomacy carried out using coast guards, engagement of shipping companies, engagement of shipping companies, engagement of civil merchant navy and also engagement at the level of diplomacy with all those countries who depend on the maritime routes for security their country’s national interest for the long run. Maritime diplomacy is also used as a tool for country’s soft power and hard power, India has been one of the best examples of using maritime diplomacy as a tool of soft power in which India has extended multiple credit lines to debt ridden Sri Lanka during 2022 Sri Lankan economic crisis and signing important port deals in Madagascar.

India and the Indian Government is also hosting various events related to maritime policy and maritime diplomacy hosting events like “Sagarmanthan 2024” which was the first edition of this conference hosted under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. Mr Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways had said:

“Recognizing India’s potential for maritime growth, the government has launched several initiatives to harness the opportunities presented by the blue economy, paving our way towards a sustainable future”

Hon’ble Minister also stated that:

“India is strategically connected to key global trade routes and our participation on maritime trade initiatives such as India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) along with our efforts in green shipping and shipbuilding capacity will position India to serve maritime sector globally.”

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that “Blue Chakra of India’s national flag represents the potential of the Blue economy”. This statement of Indian Prime Minister reflects that the government has begun paying special attention to developing ties with India’s neighbours and countries in the Indian Ocean Region.

Prime Minister Modi has also stated that “Indian Ocean Region is at the top of our policy priorities. Our vision for Indian Ocean Region is rooted in advancing cooperation in our region and to use our region and to use our capabilities for the benefit of all in our common maritime home. Those who live in this region have the primary responsibility for peace stability and prosperity in the Indian Ocean.
 

Ancient maritime Connections of India

India’s ancient maritime and cultural connections with the countries of Southeast Asia can be traced back many millennia. Indian trader crossed the Bay of Bengal to pursue their trade and business with the land known as Suvarna Bhumi, which is known as the “Land of Gold”, which comprised of Southeast Asian countries of today like Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Brunei and Vietnam. As Indian traders used seasonal monsoon to guide their sailing ships, they required to make stops at ports all along their route in Indo-China awaiting favourable winds. The testimony of existence of Indian colonies in the present territory of Indo-China was also recorded by the Greek geographer Ptolemy and Chinese philosophers and historians. Large Hindu dynasties and Kingdom and empires proliferated in Champa (Sian), Cambodia, Java, Sumatra (Island in Indonesia), with a panoply of Hindu and Buddhist culture, between 5th and 13th century, it was also during this period that India’s great naval power, Srivijaya Empire had majority of the control in the Malacca Strait. This empire is said to have possessed numerous ships that had sailed regularly to India and China routes. This control has briefly passed to the Indian kingdom in southern part of India “The Chola Kingdom”, before the Arabs arrived in the 14th century. The strong cultural affiliation has ensured a strong a strong affinity of Southwest Asian nations towards Indian culture and its people.

Even in the West of the Indian Peninsula, the Hindu kingdoms were sailing the open seas much before. Egyptians and the Greeks, who did not know routes till Hippalus discovered the monsoon winds in 45AD. Indian navigators had also had discovered Socotra (Sukhad-Haru) and navigated Red-Sea long before this. Even the First European sailor across the Arabian sea, Vasco Da Gama in his ships Sau Gabriel, utilised the services of a Hindu sailor to navigate from Malinde in Africa to the Malabar Coast in May 1498. This was followed by Portuguese domination of India’s maritime history till the end of the 16th century followed by the British.

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ji, king of the Maratha Empire gave the strongest resistance to the British from gaining control along the Indian coasts. The Marathas, who were under constant attacks from the Mughals, initially had no navy. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was the first to realise the importance of a strong navy. Fighting the siddis (who had their base at Murud Janjira) and observing the naval power of the Portuguese navy along with the Konkan Coast, Shivaji had realised the importance of having an efficient system of parts, navigator system and a strong navy. Shivaji Maharaj had believed in forts and had believed in forts and had built many coastal forts such as at Vijay durg, Sindhudurg and many others along with the Konkan coast. He had ensured sound defence of the forts by constructing them on hillocks overlooking the coast.

The navy of the Maratha soon become much stronger and established strongholds in the forts at Kolaba, Sindhudurg, Vijaydurg and Ratnagiri. The Marathas had held both Portuguese and the British at the bay singlehandedly under Shivaji Maharaj, the Maratha navy developed into a ferocious force with more than 500 ships.

Indian Navy is historically connected with another personality named Kanhoji Angre, who took over as the Sarkhel (Admiral) of the Maratha fleet in 1699. Kanhoji initially remained focused on building his fleet from just ten ships to about fifty galbats and ten ghurabs. These increments made his fleet a sizeable naval force. He recaptured all the forts that had been lost by the Maratha navy to the siddis.

Kanhoji began to attack and capture Portuguese merchant ships that refused to purchase his passports. The Portuguese retaliated but were outnumbered and defeated by the Marathas. Eventually, the Portuguese front in his favour, Kanhoji shifted his attention to the British. The British port in Mumbai was very close to Kanhoji’s Kolaba fort. The British regarded him as a threat and wooed all his enemies to their side. The British Governor at that time Charles Boone and the legendary Sarkhel Kanhoji fought many battles over a decade and both suffered heavy losses. Finally, in 1724, the Sarkhel Kanhoji wrote to the British Governor William Phipps proposing peace. While there was no formal agreement of any kind, both refrained from indulging in any activity that threatened to break the truce. Kanhoji thus, remained undefeated at sea.
 

Military Cooperation

In today’s world, the favourable global and regional accept once of India’s benign and reasonable stand in geopolitical matrix should help India shape a favourable regional environment, through constructive engagement and cooperation among the Indian Armed forces by utilising the strength and capabilities of all arms of the government effectively. India’s efforts on capacity building and capability made more effectively and result oriented through an articulation of a sustainable maritime domain. This can be done by leveraging the Indian Armed Forces established capabilities and professional reputation to provide substance and visibility to India’s strategic vision and policy initiatives Due to support of the current Indian government, The Indian Armed Forces presence, visibility and engagement has resulted and lead to many nations like Philippines and Vietnam are eagerly seeking India’s assistance/cooperation as the ‘first port of call’. In today’s time, the Indian armed forces are very well positioned to become very suitable coordinators in several capacity building projects in the region, which should now extend to include countries of the Western Pacific Region.

Over the few years, the Indian armed forces, and particularly the Indian Navy, have been engaging with partner littoral countries under a wide range of cooperative constructs to facilitate well rounded umbrella of defence cooperation. This structure of engagement has been well elucidated in the Indian naval strategic publication. In October 2019, then Indian Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh he had addressed the conclave of defence had postulated about “four pillars” or the “four C’s”. First, capacity building (provision of military assets and military infrastructure development), second, capability enhancement (military training, technical assistance, hydrographic assistance, exclusive economic zone (EEZ), surveillance etc.). Third, constructive engagements (military-level talks, military exercise, ship visits and ship buildings etc. and fourth, collaboration.

Military Diplomacy in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) will work only if India is able to keep up the pace with development of maritime capabilities. There are only two options for India, either to build naval capabilities on its own and maintain strategic autonomy or join alliance led by the US/ Western countries including France, develop leverages against China. Many Experts and Naval veterans believe that India should be focused on building comprehensive maritime capabilities sea-based infrastructure development.

In the last 5 years, India has adopted a more proactive maritime diplomacy in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). In fact, we all have seen India’s maritime diplomacy is being ideally called “turning strategy” to encircle the encirclement of “String of Pearls”. Indian Navy Officer and writer Vice Admiral Pradip Chauhan has described India’s maritime diplomacy as pursuit, promotion preservation and protection of India’s ‘maritime interests. He also underpins maritime-diplomacy as an instrument of state policy to prevent others to use Indian Ocean that comprises India’s vital national and security interests. There are two aspects of maritime diplomacy of India with regard to the IOR, first, securing vital national interests of India. Second, for collective safety, security and growth of the regional neighbours which is given name SAGAR by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
 

National Interests of Bharat (India) in Maritime Diplomacy

In the recent years, we have seen how India in the last 10 years has been working on its maritime security and diplomacy strategy. There are key diplomatic objectives of securing vital national interests of India by:

-Securing of Island territories, territorial boundaries and offshore assets.

-Deter and defeat threats from state and non-state actors to the sea-based assets.

-Prevent any type of encroachment and exploitation of the blue economy within India’s EEZ.

-Securing its own commercial shipping against threat from inimical focus.

-Protecting and extricate our own diaspora if threatened during war and instability in a foreign country.

-Undertaking HADR in the Island territories during natural disasters and the calamities.

-Protecting Vital SLOCs from crimes happening on the high seas.

-Undertaking maritime reconnaissance and sea patrolling to ensure freedom of manoeuvre of naval combat fleet as part of routine naval operations.
 

Boosting Strategic capacity for India’s Maritime Diplomacy

Over the past few years, Indian Navy has gradually built on its engagements with the littorals of the Southeast Asian region with whom it seeks to nurture well rounded defence cooperation. This has been elucidated a “harnessing the collective military competency” in the 2015 India’s naval doctrine- Ensuring secure Seas. There was two key naval strategies documents-Freedom to use the seas released in 2007 and ensuring secure seas in 2015 have been vital in giving shape to the country’s envisioned role, its capacities and most importantly, its identified areas of interest. In attempt to upgrade India’s maritime military policy, the 2007 report was there and prescient enough Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), Security of energy and even the foreign policy initiatives in the IOR.

In order to overcome the menace of terrorism, drugs, human trafficking, arms and ammunition smuggling, concerted regional initiatives would be desirable. The Indian Navy has invested in partnership building to map activities of the terrorist organization and the presence of non-state actors in the IOR.

India does not view the Indo-Pacific as a strategy or grouping of limited members, nor does it seek to dominate the region or target a specific country. Instead, it wants to ensure that “all have equal access as a right under international law to the use of common spaces on the sea and in the air that would require freedom of navigation, unimpeded commerce and peaceful settlement of disputes by international law. This extends from India’s vision of ‘security and growth for all in the region’ (SAGAR). A foundational concept for India’s understanding of the Indo-Pacific, the SAGAR vision prescribes security as a collective pursuit based on shared interest and a framework of morality that respects the “legitimate strategic imperative of all civilised nations”. India is thus intent on building collective security through value-based partnerships. To prevent maritime crimes, preserve marine ecology, protect against disasters and ensure sea lanes remain “pathways to prosperity and corridors of peace”. As the shared maritime space with ASEAN, the Bay is a natural platform for India to undertake such collaborative security efforts.

Following the November 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, India began focusing on coastal security based on the fundamentals stressed by the International Maritime Organisations and the Regional Cooperation Agreement on combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against ships in Asia-interagency coordination, procedures for information sharing, integrating strategies with existing methods for making the most of limited resources, swift operational response; enhanced surveillance and patrol, and arrest and prosecution to curb armed robbery and piracy. Indian navy is tasked with overall maritime security (including coastal security), and the Coast Guard is responsible for coastal security in territorial waters along with the state marine police (SMP). The security of India’s major and private ports is also strengthened as per the international ship and Port Facility security code and Indian Home Ministry’s guidelines for non-major ports. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is responsible for security in all major ports. The Indian Coast Guards, SMP, customs and port authorities, and other agencies coordinate their responses to armed robberies. Notably, strengthening coastal security is crucial as India progresses with its peans for port and port-led development.

In 2019, India passed the Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill (although it is still awaiting presidential assent), which criminalises maritime piracy and allows authorities to ensure safer international transit and domestic operations in the region, and aims to strengthen international cooperation and regional partnerships to combat piracy. The Maritime Fisheries (Regulation and Management) Bill (also to be passed) seeks to prohibit fishing by foreign vessels in India’s EEZs (Exclusive Economic Zones). India has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Bangladesh on blue economy in 2015 and combat transnational illegal activities at sea to refrain fishers, although both documents await formulisation.

Under the SAGAR initiative, India engages in patrols and the naval exercises with the navies of the Bay littoral states and major powers. These include Malabar exercises, the India-Thailand-Singapore exercise, Japan-India maritime exercise, these exercises aims to enhance interoperability between the participating navies and target illegal activities such as maritime terrorism, IUU fishing, drug trafficking, human trafficking and armed robbery.
 

India’s Post COVID-19 recovery via Maritime and Port-led development

COVID-19 had put the world in a major economic and humanitarian crisis, it has also ravaged foundations of our globalised economy. Every country in the world has been impacted by COVID-19. Ports and the shipping sector are the key driver of trade for India. Moving more than 90% of our international cargo volume, the importance of maritime transport for India’s economic and maritime development which can’t be emphasized. India is actually blessed to have 7500km of coastline along with the Indian Ocean Region. India host one of the most important trade crossing-connecting Far East with Europe. 50% of the world maritime trade, 50% of container traffic and 70% of trade in the energy sails through the Indian Ocean Region.

Yet, amid our vast coastline and a strategic location, the progress of our ports and the shipping sector has been much below potential as compared to our neighbours in Asia and the Middle East. Contributing to just 1% of the country’s GDP, the growth of the sector has been constrained due to many developmental, procedural and policy-related challenges such as limited port infrastructure, sub-optimal transport modal mix for the cargo movement, limited hinterland linkages, low penetration of coastal and inland shipping, limited digitisation and mechanisation and procedural bottlenecks at various ports in India.

The Good news is that the most key policy legislations such as major Ports Authority Bill, Merchant Shipping act and guidelines are already at revision. Additionally, the government has granted infrastructure status’ to logistics and ports sub-sectors. Still, more needs to be done to realize the potential and the vision of making India a global manufacturing and trade hub.
 

India’s Blue Economic growth and Maritime Security in the Indo-Pacific

Indian Ocean being, the world’s third largest ocean, is of greatest strategic importance due to its geographic position and the presence of emerging threats along with our trade routes, including the piracy and regional conflict. Moreover, in the recent decades, climate has exacerbated tropical storms, floods, droughts and the heat waves.

By 2030, the Indian Ocean Region is projected to have the highest population density in the world with around 340 million people living in the coastal risk zones. The Bay of Bengal region is responsible for over 80% of cyclone related deaths and fatalities despite experiencing only 5% of the world cyclone. Rapid population growth, rising sea levels and increasing cyclone intensity contribute to greater human vulnerability and regional insecurity. These countries include India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The environmental and climate conditions of the Indian Ocean have significant implications for the blue economy migration, shipping and geopolitics.

India’s geopolitical and geographical positioning as a maritime country grants it as a strategic influence over the Indian Ocean. The geoeconomic centre shifts from the West to the East. As such India’s ambitions in the maritime area are actually closely tied to its aspirations to become a regional and one of the global powers.

India’s plays a crucial role in securing these SLOCs (Sea lines of communication) and promoting economic cooperation through multicultural intergovernmental alliances and regional multilateral organisations specifically, India always works within the framework such as Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) to foster regional collaboration to counterbalance external influences.

Approximately 46% of the global trade passes through its sea lanes of the communication (SLOC) making the Indian Ocean a critical maritime passage. The strategic importance of these chokepoints has highlighted competition among major powers, particularly between India and China. India’s partnership and collaborations with the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD)-QUAD is a strategic grouping of 4 countries consisting of India, the United States, Japan and Australia-this group is made to ensure the freedom and security along with vital maritime routes, curbing and countering unwanted Chinese influence and aggression in the region. India’s alliances with the other QUAD countries are critical for safeguarding these passages, thereby maintaining both regional and economic stability and security as China’s regional presence expands.

The Indian Ocean has become a key battleground for power competition between the US and emerging rivals China and India. Both India and China aims to expand their naval presence in the Indian Ocean, but their historical mistrust fosters mutual suspicion. These dynamic shapes that how each country approaches the Indian Ocean, leading them to view it through the lens of the privileges and responsibilities. Despite these discourse around the rivalry between India and China in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), potential flashpoints for the maritime conflict remains concentrated in the Pacific, particularly in the South China Sea, East China Sea, and the Taiwan Strait.

The Indo-Pacific has emerged as a global economic centre resulting and leading to ongoing geopolitical and geostrategic opportunities and challenges for the region. On one hand is the economic growth of the Indo-Pacific region has potential to foster the cooperation, which can reduce the poverty and improve the quality of life for millions of people. On the other hand, the Indo-Pacific growing economic and military power fosters the distrust among neighbouring nations, highlighting the complexities of balancing the competition with collaboration in a rapidly changing global landscape although, India remains as a cautious maritime power, its focus is on securing its nation and core interests within the Indian ocean Region (IOR) which are also interwined with both conventional security challenges and unconventional security challenges like climate change.

In boosting India’s blue economy, Adani Ports is the best example that is pushing India’s Blue economy and the maritime diplomacy. India’s strategic objectives than has been possible far. Is it just a coincidence that Adani’s global expansion closely shadows the Chinese footprint along China’s Belt and Road Initiative? Or is it that as New Delhi competes with Beijing for influence in the neighbourhood and beyond, the Adani group’s size, resources and capacity are seen as a key element in achieving India’s strategic objectives than has been possible so far.

For Adani group, described as India’s largest ports and logistics company, there couldn’t be a better time. As the QUAD grouping of India, Australia, Japan and the US, competes with China in the Indo-Pacific, it has committed “to catalyse infrastructure delivery” by putting more than $50 billion on the table for ‘assistance and investment in the Indo-Pacific over the next 5 years and ‘drive public and private investment to bridge gaps.”
 

India’s Maritime cooperation with other countries

New Delhi’s strategic vision should also comprise waters beyond the IOR (Indian Ocean Region) in terms of operational reach. This is also especially pertinent in the context of the rising salience of the Indo-Pacific Region and the networks of partnerships taking the shape. The advent of the minilateral platforms for the issue-based on collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region offers unique opportunity for India to join hands with the like-minded countries with which it can pool various resources for achievement of the common goals. Indeed, countries such as the US, UK, Australia, Japan and recently, the European Union (EU) perceive India as a natural partner in their expanding involvement in the region: This complements India’s own ambitions of seeking to build a greater degree of strategic engagement with the region. For instance, take the QUAD, which has gained momentum over the past couple of years, is witnessing a more proactive role on part of New Delhi as well. While challenges from China will continue to shape interactions among the other countries as well, it is vital to identify functional areas of cooperation.

India would also make efforts for collaboration in maritime diplomacy with other non-conventional players with great potentials such as New Zealand, Norway, The Netherlands and Italy.
 

India’s maritime cooperation with Southeast Asia (ASEAN) countries

India’s historically had enduring linkages with its Eastern neighbours. More recent, India’s Act East Policy is only a new manifestation. To begin with, India’s Look East Policy was launched at the end of the cold war when India was trying to settle into the new world order and bloc politics due to Soviet Union disintegration, Sudden Shift at global geopolitical landscape and fluctuating the relations with immediate neighbours along with a newly opened economy of India to revamp its ties with ASEAN. Then, India’s Act East Policy was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 2014 and deepen India’s partnership in the Indo-Pacific region. The Act East Policy is mainly focusing on building Indo-ASEAN partnerships in field of domestic development, infrastructure, make-in-India, Trade-routes and smart-city projects.

In terms of Maritime Cooperation, India has been committed to working towards ensuring a constructive maritime environment in the Indian Ocean Region. Indian may therefore undertake various activities with predefined objectives and missions at different levels to increase cooperation and engagement between different navies in the region and also to provide assistance to the countries in any of exigencies. Indian Navy engages in maritime environment in various ways to counter threats and challenges. These are the efforts which are collaborative and cooperative in nature, these things are part of naval diplomacy of India to maintain security of the region. ASEAN forms a significant part of Indian Navy’s efforts to promote the maritime security and diplomacy in the region.

India and ASEAN have been engaged in bilateral as well as several naval exercises, multilateral forums and initiatives to promote maritime security. These partnerships include:

-Personal level Exchanges

-Defence Staff interactions and meetings

-Anti-Piracy and Counter Terrorism operations

-High level Maritime Strategic Interactions

India and ASEAN have powerful and enduring sea-faring traditions and their long coast-lines have given them organic connections with the oceans. In recent decades, the world has witnessed greater focus on conducting various naval exercises and naval diplomacy and India and other ASEAN countries shares humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. For example, India giving disaster relief materials to countries like Laos and Vietnam during Typhoon Yagi 2024.

Indian Navy regularly engages in bilateral and multilateral PASSEX exercises. These types of exercises help in enhancing operational skills, and help in enhancing operational skills and help in maintaining capabilities according to the international standards. India exercise in February and May 2021. The Indian Navy had also sent INS Sharda along with Chetak helicopter and Indonesian Navy had sent KRI Sultan Hasanudin. In 2020, India and Vietnam conducted two-day passage exercise in SCS to boost maritime cooperation.

The Indian Navy along with ASEAN navies takes part in some of intermittent and cyclical exercises. These military exercises include MALABAR and MILAN exercises which have been the most enduring. The more recent naval exercises are exercises involving QUAD nations or members of Quadrilateral security Framework namely Japan, The United States, Australia and India. Amongst these, humanitarian assistance driven exercise remains most regular and aim to ensure maritime safety.

There are various exercises happening of Indian navy with ASEAN countries including:

-Indian Navy and Indonesian Navy “Samudra Shakti”.

-India-Singapore Maritime Bilateral Exercise ‘SIMBEX’

-Maritime Partnership exercise- Indian Navy and Philippine Navy

India and ASEAN navies regularly engage in operational interactions. These exercises and the MALABAR exercise as well as Anti-Piracy operations. The MILAN exercise started in the year 1995.

High level tactical exchanges happen between Indian navy and ASEAN navies aims to improve strategic cooperation and communication strengthen maritime cooperation. India’s interests have expanded over maritime diplomacy in ASEAN. These programs including ASEAN Regional forum, IPOI (Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative etc.)

Piracy and Maritime Terrorism are major issues in the Southeast Asia affecting their trade and thereby affecting the economy and people’s livelihoods.
 

Challenges And Opportunities in India’s Maritime Diplomacy

New Delhi’s biggest challenge in the maritime security and diplomacy domain is none other than China. Since 2008, Beijing first sent its warships to the Gulf of Aden for anti-piracy operations, China’s military presence in Eastern Indian Ocean has significantly expanded. Beijing has sought to extend its influence over the Bay of Bengal states via investments and infrastructure development. Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Thailand have benefitted from China’s Belt and Road initiative (BRI) and as has Pakistan, China’s all-weather friend in South Asian region. Even some of the countries have allowed Chinese-built commercial facilities on their homeland territory to be used for quasi military purposes.

To counter China, India is working on building maritime muscle to increase its naval presence in the Indian Navy has embarked on an ambitious plan to create a 175-ship force by the year 2035, setting many milestones to push the indigenisation and cast away the dependence on the foreign suppliers. In order for the Indian Navy and India’s maritime power to be self-reliant by 2047, the naval commanders are focused on the futuristic capability development, devising its plans to overcome complex security challenges in maritime domain.

The pace of naval ship construction is struggling to keep up the pace with strategic needs. Indian Navy and India’s Maritime’s capital budget is very small, the pace of construction much slower than China.

India is building more warships than its past but People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) China is still at stark. In contrast to China, which builds 14 warships every year where India builds only 4 warships every year.

New Delhi has bolstered its maritime strategic partnerships New Delhi’s leadership has made ‘rules-based security’ a priority, with the regional partners. The Indian Navy always sees itself as a first responder to the crises in the Indian Ocean Region has always been at the forefront of cooperative endeavours with Bay of Bengal states, ASEAN countries as well as the QUAD countries.

Yet, challenges are there in the non-traditional realm persist. While the situational awareness in the littorals has improved significantly, the Indian Navy and India’s maritime diplomacy itself stretched in the littorals. The problem is, lack of law enforcement capacity. Many of India’s neighbours have limited naval coast guard capabilities. If the Indian Navy and coast guards have focused on disproportionate energy and resources on the littoral security, it is also because naval planners have few options.

If port-led development and industrialisation is a bright spot for New Delhi, the maritime governance remains a problem for India’s particularly the vexing issue of illegal and excessive exploitation of resources.

To be sure, India’s maritime power is more than a matter of policing the commons or accumulating. Sea power is equally about creating prosperity for the people and meeting the needs of national development.

The MALABAR exercises form a crucial part of this shift, facilitated by India’s investment in high-tech capabilities and key defence partnerships. Recent acquisitions, including P-8I Poseidon patrol aircraft and Sonobuoys from the US, significantly enhancing India’s anti-submarine warfare capacity. Through Malabar, India’s role has expanded from that of a participant to a key strategic driver, shaping the QUAD’s long term security focus while underscoring India’s commitment to regional stability.

As China continues to assert its presence in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea, India’s strengthened maritime capabilities position the Indian Navy as critical counterweight. Through MALABAR, India demonstrates its readiness to uphold a rules-based order and protect freedom of navigation.
 

Way Forward

India’s maritime diplomacy is central to its strategic, economic and national interests. Policy recommendations also mainly focus on Port Development, Blue Economy, Indo-Pacific and cooperation with the other countries.

The suggestions to enhance India’s maritime diplomacy strategy are as follows:

1. Port Development including the modernisation of major Indian ports (e.g. Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Vishakhapatnam) with modern technology and innovation. Trying to improve digital operations and logistics. Investing in minor ports to improve coastal shipping and reduce congestion on major ports.

-Establishment of industrial cluster along with parts to promote trade and job creations.

-Promoting connectivity between the ports and hinterland areas by inland waterways, for example- water taxi services.
 

2. International Port Development Partnerships: There should be focus on international partnerships in port-led development initiatives.

-Chabahar Port in Iran: There should be Indian investments and further expansion to counterbalance China’s Gwadar Port in Pakistan.

- Partnership with ASEAN and EU countries to strengthen its Port development initiatives like India should lead SAGARMALA led initiative to make port infrastructure better.

-Port development initiatives in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR): India should enhance cooperation with countries in the IOR such as Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, etc, for mutually beneficial port led developments like SAGARMALA.
 

3. Blue Economy: Blue economy is very important for India’s maritime Diplomacy to enhance blue economy to promote maritime economy via the logistics.

-Sustainable Economic Development: Fisheries and Marine resources are the important part of blue economy, sustainable economic development doing cooperation with the coastal countries to effectively manage marine resources for better sustainable fisheries development.

-Offshore Renewable Energy should also be explored to expand research and investment in the offshore wind, wave and tidal energy projects.

-Marine biotechnology should be promoted very well to enhance better biotechnology.
 

4. Expansion of maritime security framework: Focusing on strengthening India’s naval capabilities by expanding and modernizing the Indian Naval fleet. Increasing presence in the Indo-Pacific region and protect trade routes in the region of Indo-Pacific.

-There should be sharing of the information to improve the ocean sector awareness cooperation through initiatives such as Indian Ocean Information Fusion centre (IFC-IOR).

-Fighting Illegal activities will lead to efforts to fight against piracy, illegal smuggling, terrorism by encouraging and promoting joint patrols and the regional cooperation.
 

5. Focus on human resource development and capacity building

-Skill development project should be given an importance like the establishing maritime university and training institute to enhance the skills in the port management, maritime operations and logistics.

-Promote Research and development in the field of marine technology, geopolitical and environmental sustainability to address the current challenges in today’s scenario of maritime world.

 

6. Encouragement of Digital integration, technology in Maritime Sector

-Introduction and making of smart ports should be built using AI tools, Internet of tools (IoT) and technology of blockchain to security and operations of major and minor ports.

-Building Cybersecurity Protocols is very important to strengthen to fight against cybersecurity threats targeting important maritime infrastructure.

Therefore, following this policy recommendation. India should enhance its maritime diplomacy and port-led development initiatives promoting blue economic growth. India has been working on its maritime power, diplomacy, in the last few years, India has enhanced its naval capabilities as well.

Overall, through conferences like “Sagarmanthan 2024”, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India now being able to communicate about the work done to enhance India’s maritime diplomacy, maritime security and power, India’s blue economic reforms and port-led development initiatives including SAGRMALA as well as regional initiatives like SAGAR (Security and Growth for All Regions).


References
 

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