Indian Ocean And India S Security

At the cusp of the 21st Century, the security of the Indian Ocean region continues to be confronted with boundless threats, more from non-traditional sources, that have obviously become manifold in the Post-Cold War era. These threats emanate from non-military sources like drug-trafficking, frequent cross-border terrorism, proliferation of small arms, demographic disequilibrium , spill-over effects of domestic violence, resource depletion, some ethno-religious and tribal conflicts, etc.

This book provides a synoptic view of the Indian Ocean and maritime security in its contested waters. Using a historical approach, it reveals vital links to events in the present day. The volume: Highlights the competition between major Asian powers to control the ‘String of Pearls’ — a reference to the Chinese attempts at controlling the Indian Ocean periphery. Shows that cooperation amongst the major powers of the region could abate the threat of the potential of conflict becoming global and inviting external intervention. Discusses India’s Look-East policy and the deepening relation between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Argues for the need of Indian Ocean states and particularly the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) members of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) to look afresh at their political and security issues and common interests. Suggests measures for evolving a robust mechanism of maintaining the Indian Ocean as a sustainable zone of commerce, energy, security and peace rather than threat. A major contribution on a critical area in Asian geopolitics, this volume will be useful to scholars and researchers of international relations, politics, defence studies and maritime security studies, along with strategic affairs experts and think tanks.

The Indian Ocean, with its critical routes for global commerce, is a potentially volatile location for geopolitical strife. Even as the region’s role in the international economy and as a highway to conflict zones increases, the US has failed to advance a coherent strategy for protecting its interests in the Indian Ocean or for managing complex diplomatic relationships across the region. The Indian Ocean and US Grand Strategy presents a range of viewpoints about whether and how the US should alter its diplomatic and military strategies for this region. Contributors examine US interests in the Indian Ocean, assess the relative critical importance or imperiled nature of these interests, and propose solutions for American strategy ranging from minimal change to maximum engagement. The book concludes with a comparative assessment of these options and a discussion of their implications for US policymakers. This volume’s perspectives and analysis of the Indian Ocean region will be valued by scholars and students of US foreign policy, South Asia, and security studies as well as by diplomats, military officers, and other practitioners.

This book analyses the emergence of the Indian Ocean as security complex and a strategic space of central importance and also looks at its prospective future. As well as US-China rivalry, the India-China rivalry is now the defining factor in the Indian Ocean--irrespective of the strategic asymmetry. This new situation has opened a space for middle-powers, old and new, to intervene. The authors argue that this situation may turn into an additional source of instability and that the creation of an inclusive and comprehensive regional security architecture, as well as the strengthening of regional multilateralism, should be the priority of all stakeholders in the coming decade. Frederic Grare is Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Affairs (ECFR) and a non-resident senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Jean-Loup Samaan is Senior Research Fellow at the Middle East Institute of the National University of Singapore and Associate Researcher with the French Institute of International Relations. .

This book analyses the emergence of the Indian Ocean as security complex and a strategic space of central importance and also looks at its prospective future. As well as US-China rivalry, the India-China rivalry is now the defining factor in the Indian Ocean – irrespective of the strategic asymmetry. This new situation has opened a space for middle-powers, old and new, to intervene. The authors argue that this situation may turn into an additional source of instability and that the creation of an inclusive and comprehensive regional security architecture, as well as the strengthening of regional multilateralism, should be the priority of all stakeholders in the coming decade.

Security Challenges Along The Indian Ocean Littoral: Indian & Us Perspectives By C Uday Bhaskar, Kamlesh K Agnihotri Book Description The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is gaining strategic importance on the global maritime map. Besides connecting several important countries and being home to a very large proportion of the world's population, almost forty per cent of global seaborne trade and seventy per cent of hydro-carbon products transit this Ocean. The vastness of the IOR poses several security challenges and it is also widely accepted that a comprehensive focus on the spectrum of challenges is lacking. These include the problem of piracy, the possibility of renewed terrorism at and from the sea and the pervasive smuggling of people, narcotics and arms. This increased activity and volatility has forced India to look beyond the subcontinent to the larger periphery of the IOR. The United States is also deeply involved in its own security and stability operations along an arc - from the Red Sea to Pakistan. Speculation about China's future intentions in the Indian Ocean continues to grow since Beijing is deeply concerned about the potential disruption of its energy supply lines from the Middle East and Africa. This book contains a comprehensive overview of relevant and instructive perspectives of Indian and US security experts. It seeks to identify the key maritime security issues and explores the potential contribution which the Indian and US Navy can make in meeting these challenges. The avenues for greater cooperation between the two navies, to serve as a catalyst for wider cooperation along the Indian Ocean littoral have also been suggested. About The Author C Uday Bhaskar is the Director of the National Maritime Foundation, New Delhi. A widely acknowledged security analyst, he is Contributing Editor of the South Asia Monitor and a regular columnist with Reuters. He was appointed Member Secretary of the Government of India Task Force on Global Strategic Developments, the report of which was submitted to the Prime Minister of India. Cmde (Retd.) Bhaskar served in the Indian Navy for 37 years. He was the Deputy Director of the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) from1996 till 2004, which he later headed till 2005. A prolific writer, Cmde. Bhaskar has edited several books on nuclear and international security issues. He is a regular contributor to several Indian and global journals. He also lectures at military colleges, including the Indian National Defence College. Kamlesh K Agnihotri is a Research Fellow at the China cell of National Maritime Foundation (NMF). He has worked in the China Desk at the Indian Army Headquarters, where he gained extensive insight on China, its armed forces and the complex nature of India-China relations. Commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1986, Cdr. Agnihotri is a gunnery and missile specialist. He has several years of experience in various fleet ships and has commanded a ship in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. A Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry expert, he holds a Masters degree in Business Management. Cdr. Agnihotri has written several articles in the NMF Journal Maritime Affairs and commentaries in the NMF website. He has presented papers on subjects connected with China, in India and abroad. In addition to his research work, he is also learning the Chinese language.

India has legitimate security concerns in the IOR, which falls in its strategic backyard, especially with China making strategic maritime moves in the region. But India might not want to be seen as a regional supercop in the IOR, nor as the prime mover of a naval military bloc in the Asia-Pacific region. This book discusses about India considering itself to be "a neutral player" in the entire power-play in the Asia-Pacific region, with the US seeking to "contain" China. It also tries to bringout the Strategy of other players in the region and its Impact on India.