The Position of the Indian Ocean in the Promotion of India into a Leading Sea Power

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Political Geography, University of Maragheh, Maragheh, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Asian Cultural Documentation Center, Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

This study investigates the role of the Indian Ocean in India's strategic thinking to become a leading sea power and aims to address three fundamental questions: First, what impact does geostrategic position and security environment of the Indian Ocean have on India's sea power? Second, what measures has India taken to become a leading sea power? Third, what obstacles faced India in this relation? The research findings show the geostrategic significance of the Indian Ocean to promote India into a leading sea power, and India has taken some military measures and maritime policies to improve its sea power. The initiatives and strengthening of the Indian naval fleet are among its military actions. India's maritime policies include the neighborhood policy, SAGAR, action in the east, Mausam, cotton route, diamond necklace, Bharatmala and Sagarmala. Also, the obstacles hindering India to become naval power include weak presence in different regions of the Indian Ocean, lack of military and strategic focus on navy and the presence of regional rivals in the Indian Ocean.

Introduction

By having a strategic maritime position in the Indian Ocean, India can play a crucial role in exercising sea power and it can control, dominate and oversee the straits and maritime corridors and communication networks. Sea power as the primary driver of India's presence in the Indian Ocean and protection of its vital interests is of strategic importance for India. By relying on sea power, India can secure its economic and security interests while simultaneously maintaining regional peace and security. The significance of this maritime area for India became more apparent after the Cold War era. As the primary force behind naval presence in the Indian Ocean, the Indian Navy plays a crucial role in securing India's interests. The current study investigates the role of the Indian Ocean in India's strategic thinking to become a leading sea power and aims to address three fundamental questions: First, what impact does the geostrategic position and security environment of the Indian Ocean have on India's sea power? Second, what measures has India taken to become a leading sea power in this sea area? Third, what obstacles faced India in becoming a sea power?

Theoretical Framework

This research is theoretically based on theories of sea power and the essential factors required exercising sea power. These necessary factors include economic and industrial, military, political and institutional (domestic or international), human and societal, geographical and territorial, geopolitical, technological, maritime infrastructure and information technology. Each of these factors has some sub-elements. These seven factors interact with each other, either weakening or strengthening one another. Acquiring sea power (both the naval military force and civilian agents of sea power) is an important and necessary variable in order to become a world power, and no power can be a real power in the world without maintaining a stable, coherent and robust presence in the naval arena.

Methodology

The purpose of the current research is to explain the role of the Indian Ocean in the promotion of India into a leading sea power which can change the image of India's regional and global power. In terms of nature and method, the current research is descriptive-analytic and the method of data gathering procedure is based on library and documentary methods. In this article, the reports of international organizations, India's maritime movements, documents on India's foreign and security-military policies are examined, followed by an explanation of India's goals and interests. Qualitative data analysis is used to analyze the data.

Results & Discussion

The geostrategic importance of the Indian Ocean in advancing India's position as a leading sea power is obvious for India, and it has taken some military measures and maritime policies in the domestic and international arenas to promote its sea power. Although the Indian Navy has established itself as a prominent naval force in the regional arena that has expanded its operations to the regional open seas navy, but India's efforts to become a leading sea power in the Indian Ocean and to be present continuously in other oceanic regions have not materialized. Currently, India is only one of the sea powers in the Indian Ocean. This issue has some reasons. The presence of the Indian Navy in extra-regional waters is primarily restricted to the Pacific Ocean; this presence cannot match the ideals of India's leading power and its requirements for projecting sea power in the open waters of the ocean. Apart from the domestic issues and the security environment of India, which contributed to this deficiency, it is essential to consider the political behaviors of other countries as well as geopolitical developments in the maritime scene and especially in the Indian Ocean should be taken into consideration.

Conclusions & Suggestions

The research findings show the geostrategic significance of the Indian Ocean to promote India into a leading sea power, and this country has taken some military measures and maritime policies, both domestically and internationally to improve its sea power. The initiatives and strengthening of the Indian naval fleet are among the military actions of this country. India's maritime policies also include the neighborhood policy, the formation of governmental institutions in the Indian Ocean, SAGAR, action in the east, Mausam, cotton route, diamond necklace, Bharatmala and Sagarmala. Also, the obstacles hindering India to become naval power include the lack of presence in different regions of the Indian Ocean, lack of military and strategic focus on the navy and the presence of regional rivals and adversaries such as China and Pakistan, in the Indian Ocean.
 

Keywords

References

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