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Powerplay Unfolding in the Indian Ocean: Where Does Bharat Stand?
Powerplay Unfolding in the Indian Ocean: Where Does Bharat Stand?
Sputnik India
The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is fast becoming a power play hotspot due to its cruciality for economic trade, with around 80% of global oil supplies and a... 21.01.2025, Sputnik India
2025-01-21T20:01+0530
2025-01-21T20:01+0530
2025-01-22T12:18+0530
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The militarisation of the Indian Ocean Region was a reality with a bunch of heavyweights, including the US, China, and India involved in a bitter power game but is still miles away from a military conflict there, experts have said. The IOR faces the cascading impact of US-China rivalry at one level and inter-state rivalry at another, according to Dr Pooja Bhatt, an associate professor at the Jindal Global University.Increased presence of some countries in the region is compelling India to bolster itself militarily across the domains, she told Sputnik India on Monday.Any successful foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific, including the Donald Trump administration, must consider engagement in the Indian Ocean Region, she stressed.However, the regional countries do not want to be a part of the US-China rivalry, the professor asserted.Meanwhile, there is an increased Chinese presence in the IOR, with Pakistan working to establish a foothold through submarines and other naval platforms acquired from China, while Bangladesh seeks to strengthen ties with both of the countries, retired Brigadier Anshuman Narang, a China Scholar, and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) OSINT expert, underlined in a conversation with Sputnik India. Considering that Turkiye is providing weapons to both Bangladesh and Pakistan — developments closely watched by India due to security concerns — and that Sri Lanka and Maldives are also involved in a power game between China and India, trying to balance their ties with the two regional heavyweights, the Indian Army veteran explained that it has yet to 'reach a point where conflict has erupted, at least not as of now.'China has been establishing its presence in the IOR since 2003 and has gradually increased its military footprint since 2009, Suyash Desai, a research scholar specialising in China's military and foreign policies, highlighted in an interview with Sputnik India.Today, China has a permanent military presence through its military base at Djibouti, vessel and submarine deployments and docking with regional partners, and research operations, he pointed out.While the US views India’s role in the Indo-Pacific as imortant to containing China in the region, India’s foreign policy remains independent and strong, resisting attempts to be dragged into such geopolitical binaries imposed by external powers, the pundit emphasised.China has made inroads in the region through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project and has made huge investments in smaller countries that share boundaries with India, retired Commodore Seshadri Vasan, a military expert and a former Indian Navy officer told Sputnik India.Whether it is Maldives, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, or Nepal, there has been a phenomenal amount of economic-political-strategic engagement between China and these nations, which has added to the situation that is currently prevailing in the IOR, he explained.He cited India’s strategic strengthening in the region, with the commissioning of a new naval base in the Lakshadweep archipelago last year and significant upgrades underway at the air force base in Car Nicobar, part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.India cannot ignore the growing presence of Pakistani forces near its borders, particularly with Pakistan's acquisition of stealth fighter jets, air-independent propulsion (AIP) submarines, and advanced frigates from China, Vasan stated. This has the potential to change the balance of power in the North Arabian Sea, something India needs to watch out for constantly, he added.
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Powerplay Unfolding in the Indian Ocean: Where Does Bharat Stand?
20:01 21.01.2025 (Updated: 12:18 22.01.2025) The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is fast becoming a power play hotspot due to its cruciality for economic trade, with around 80% of global oil supplies and a significant portion of overall trade passing through it.
The militarisation of the
Indian Ocean Region was a reality with a bunch of heavyweights, including the US, China, and India involved in a bitter power game but is still miles away from a military conflict there, experts have said.
The IOR faces the cascading impact of US-China rivalry at one level and inter-state rivalry at another, according to
Dr Pooja Bhatt, an associate professor at the Jindal Global University.
Increased presence of some countries in the region is compelling India
to bolster itself militarily across the domains, she told
Sputnik India on Monday.
"This is, in turn, seen as a threat to India's own neighbours that are adding to their military prowess. Additionally, in the post-Russia-Ukraine war, militarisation is now seen as a pragmatic way to protect one's sovereignty from threats by several smaller countries [such as Ukraine]. These simultaneous developments are leading to the militarisation of the IOR," Bhatt stated.
Any successful foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific, including the Donald Trump administration, must consider engagement in the Indian Ocean Region, she stressed.
However, the regional countries do not want to be a part of the US-China rivalry, the professor asserted.
"Other than the US, Russia has bilateral relations with several IOR nations and can further its presence based on larger regional interests. Moreover, as a dialogue partner in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), Russia can support the ongoing regional initiatives and broaden the conversations around issues," Bhatt suggested.
Meanwhile,
there is an increased Chinese presence in the IOR, with Pakistan working to establish a foothold through submarines and other naval platforms acquired from China, while Bangladesh seeks to strengthen ties with both of the countries, retired
Brigadier Anshuman Narang, a China Scholar, and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) OSINT expert, underlined in a conversation with
Sputnik India. Considering that Turkiye is providing weapons to both Bangladesh and Pakistan — developments closely watched by India due to security concerns — and that Sri Lanka and Maldives are also involved in a power game between China and India, trying to balance their ties with the two regional heavyweights, the Indian Army veteran explained that it has yet to 'reach a point where conflict has erupted, at least not as of now.'
"If and when a conflict starts between major powers, the IOR will play a key role," Narang said, adding that over 80% of world's oil and a substantial portion of global trade, flow through this region, including the Malacca Strait, which is overlooked by Indian military bases in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
China has been establishing its presence in the IOR since 2003 and has gradually increased its military footprint since 2009,
Suyash Desai, a research scholar specialising in China's military and foreign policies, highlighted in an interview with
Sputnik India.
Today, China has a permanent military presence through its military base at Djibouti, vessel and submarine deployments and docking
with regional partners, and research operations, he pointed out.
"Nevertheless, escalation in the IOR is not a reality due to the heavy presence of regional and international navies in the region. In addition, the Indian Navy is the dominant force in the region, with favourable geographical conditions offering it a distinct advantage over other navies," Desai asserted.
While the US views India’s role in the Indo-Pacific as imortant to containing China in the region, India’s foreign policy remains independent and strong, resisting attempts to be dragged into such geopolitical binaries imposed by external powers, the pundit emphasised.
China has made inroads in the region through its
Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) project and has made huge investments in smaller countries
that share boundaries with India,
retired Commodore Seshadri Vasan, a military expert and a former Indian Navy officer told
Sputnik India.Whether it is Maldives, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, or Nepal, there has been a phenomenal amount of economic-political-strategic engagement between China and these nations, which has added to the situation that is currently prevailing in the IOR, he explained.
"India's concerns are mainly associated with the Arabian Sea because of Pakistan, and the Bay of Bengal because of China. That's why the Malacca Straight is so critical for India and it is where the Indian military is enhancing its capabilities," the analyst observed.
He cited India’s strategic strengthening in the region, with the commissioning of a new naval base in the Lakshadweep archipelago last year and significant upgrades underway at the air force base in Car Nicobar, part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
India cannot ignore the growing presence of Pakistani forces near its borders, particularly with Pakistan's acquisition of stealth fighter jets, air-independent propulsion (AIP) submarines, and advanced frigates from China, Vasan stated. This has the potential to change the balance of power in the North Arabian Sea, something India needs to watch out for constantly, he added.
India doesn't see the IOR through an American lens and would continue to follow an independent policy based on strategic autonomy, the expert stressed. The Trump administration will likely increase interactions with the Indian Navy, seeking some concessions in the IOR, however, India would not agree, as it simply doesn't want to play second fiddle in the US-China rivalry, he concluded.
