Description
India’s official definition of the Indo-Pacific stretches from the Arabian Sea across to the Pacific Ocean. It is a far more comprehensive conceptualisation than usually invoked by other major actors and reflects the country’s multi-regional oceanic outlook, drawn from its extensive coastline and strategic islands. While there are limits to India’s ability to project power across this massive expanse it has greatly increased its visibility and ability to contribute to maritime governance, especially within the Indian Ocean.
The paper examines India’s role within two areas of maritime governance: humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR) and as a member of the International Maritime Organisation, the main regulator of international shipping. Both cases explore how India is contributing to multi-national regimes of cooperation, shaping rules and practices and engaging with other powers vested in the Indo-Pacific. This marks a clear change from the past when the stated objective was to work towards keeping areas such as the Indian Ocean free of extra-regional influences.
The paper investigates the motives and aspirations behind India’s actions both as a stakeholder and aspiring leading power. It also discusses how this can strengthen the architecture for multilateral collaboration within the Indo-Pacific.
