India's Maritime Quest in the Indian Ocean Tharishini Krishnan

The Indian Ocean has experienced human interaction for many millennia, developing an interactive high-seas trade between many different regions today. It has been an attraction for various economic reasons. Rich in marine resources and other aquatic varieties, the ocean also contains hydrocarbon resources, crude oil, petroleum products and minerals. The ocean is also a major artery for international trade, with 40 per cent passing through the Straits of Hormuz, 35 per cent through the Straits of Malacca and 8 per cent through the Bab el-Mandab Straits. On the other hand, it supports 80 per cent of the oil trade transit throughout the Indian Ocean. Besides that, the strategic location of the ocean connecting the east and west of major world sea lines of communication leads most states to build a strong toehold in the Indian Ocean for economic survival.

For India, the focal point on Indian Ocean presently poses both opportunities and challenges. First, in terms of geography, the focus towards Indian Ocean gives India a stronger foothold in the region. This is because, for India, the Indian Ocean is seen as its own backyard for a long span of time and, thus, the shift is value adding to India’s maritime posture in the current atmosphere. History shows that the Indian Ocean has been a non-alienated sphere of influence since the British Raj. Prior to independence, K. M. Pannikar called for the Indian Ocean to remain truly Indian. According to Pannikar, the Indian Ocean could be one of the many oceanic areas for other countries, but to India, the ocean’s vitality is prominent as the nation’s lifelines are concentrated in these waters.

Secondly, the increasing focus towards the Indian Ocean also gives India the luxury to turn on its navy service, which is often referred as the “Cinderella service” into an extensive momentum, and rise as a major maritime player at its own backyard. Thirdly, the shift towards the Indian Ocean will also in a way remind other regional players and maritime powers such as Japan, Australia, United Kingdom, United States and China to remain mindful of India’s strategic position and its contribution in the Indian Ocean.

However, the greatest challenge has been the rise of China and its maritime ambitions in the Indian Ocean with whom it has fought a bitter land battle in 1962. The presence of China at India’s doorsteps particularly has weakened India’s position in its own backyard. Driven by one of the major motivation - energy security, China in 2013 has initiated the Belt and Road Initiative while proactively developing new friendships and improving existing ties with relevant littoral states at the same time. China’s close relationship with the littoral states of Indian Ocean is an absolute threat to India’s maritime interest. India perceives the Indian Ocean as India’s ocean and believes that any power seeks to surpass India’s position and rattle its friendship with its neighbours as a clear sign of Indian encirclement. Therefore, China’s presence in India’s sphere is seen as a contest to India’s status as a preeminent maritime power in the region.

Secondly, competition for dominance between the United States and China in the Pacific, when intertwined with regional competition between China and India, has led countries such as Australia, Japan and South Korea to increase its stake to ensure the Indian Ocean remains stable for the sake of their own security and commercial interest. This situation places India in a more acute position because naturally, India would seek to increase its stake but at the same time, its maritime behaviour will be observed closely. Countries with less leverages will perceive India as another power like China trying to intimidate its position especially when it is beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone, while the stronger powers will seek to encircle India’s upswing in its own backyard. These have definitely increased India’s security dilemma and caused setbacks in its power management strategy in the region.

For a long time now, India has been out-of-the-way at its own domain and if India does not reinvent its maritime policies, it will eventually lose its grasp in the Indian Ocean and will remain an accessory. India has to restructure its maritime policies to convey that the command and control of the Indian Ocean require India’s mandatory association.

Therefore, it is imperative to have a change in its maritime strategic thinking. In other words, India should discard the traditional view that it is the only predominant power and its extraordinary position will not be challenged. It is true that the Indians had been occupying the Indian Ocean for many centuries and its role and function as a safety net provider has not diminished but the Indian Ocean is acquiring a new look off lately with new players coming into the picture. Hence, India should not feel intact but instead should begin taking credible steps to remind its neighbours to ‘not forget India’.

For that, India should formulate a more assertive maritime policy specifically for the Indian Ocean. The current policy seems to be too broad and far-reaching and as a result losses its strategic focus. In addition, it should employ a strategy of not just ‘stick’ but also ‘carrot’ with better features and attractive packages that are appealing and strategic for each littoral state. This will not only gain more confidence and trust from the neighbouring countries but also will be more realistic for India taking into consideration its domestic economic vulnerabilities.

In addition, India should also stress on the utility of using diplomacy as a key element in its strategy to gain stronger influence in the Indian Ocean periphery. The usage of diplomacy had been enshrined in Indian strategic thinking for millenniums. Kautilya, India’s greatest strategic thinker aptly stated that, “a king who understands the true implication of diplomacy conquers the world.” Manmohan Singh, plausibly influenced by Kautilya, said in 2004 that India shall practice the Hindu philosophy of Vasudhiava Kutumbakan, which literally means “the whole world is one family”, in its quest to be an influential power in the Indo-Asiatic region. If India somehow manages to use deft diplomatic manoeuvres to gain and sustain its influence in the Indian Ocean and within its littoral and periphery states, India may ostensibly emerge as an important regional power - an elusive aim which India has struggled to achieve thus far.