Indo Pacific Region

Indo- Pacific

• geopolitical construct which represents an integrated theatre that combines the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, and the land masses that surround them.
• gained relevance in the recent times Several regional and extra regional countries like India, Japan, USA, Australia, France etc have released policies focused on the Indo-Pacific acknowledging the strategic shift towards the region
• Germany adopts an Indo-Pacific policy centred around greater security and economic cooperation.

“The world is witnessing a race for strategic bases in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and it is only going to gain momentum in the times to come”.

• Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's oceanic divisions (after Pacific and Atlantic), covering 19.8% of the water on Earth's surface.
• IOR is home to 1/3rd of the world’s population
• densely populated & highly vulnerable to natural disasters
• Economies of many IOR countries are expanding rapidly. Bangladesh, India, Malaysia and Tanzania witnessed economic growth in excess of 5% in 2017 (well above the global average of 3.2%).
• pivotal zone of strategic competition: over 120 warships of extra-regional forces are deployed. Global powers shown a renewed interest in investing in infrastructure development in the IOR.

Why global powers are scrambling for strategic bases in the IOR?

• Economic
• global trade: connects the major engines of the international economy in the Northern Atlantic and Asia-Pacific. More than 80% percent of the world’s seaborne trade in oil transits through Indian Ocean choke points:
• Strait of Hormuz connecting Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
• Strait of Malacca between the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra island
• Bab el-Mandab Strait connecting Gulf of Aden & Red Sea.
• rich in natural resources: 40% of the world’s offshore oil production and almost 15% of the world’s total fishing. Poly Metallic Nodules (PMNs) containing nickel, cobalt, and iron, and massive sulphide deposits of manganese, copper, iron, zinc, silver, and gold present in sizeable quantities . Indian Ocean coastal sediments sources of titanium, zirconium, tin, zinc, and various rare earth elements
• Political: Peace in the IOR is indispensable for global security: More than half the world’s armed conflicts are presently located in the IOR. Terrorism, piracy, drug trafficking and unregulated migrations
• Countering rise of China: As part of its Belt and Road initiative (BRI) China is heavily investing in infrastructure and ports in Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Bangladesh, Kenya.  Western powers, including the US and UK are seeking to counter-balance China’s rise.
• Protection of maritime ecosystem: warming three times faster than in Pacific Ocean. Overfishing, coastal degradation, and pollution are also harming the marine ecosystem. 

Why is India seen as pivotal by the global powers for increasing their geopolitical influence in the IOR? 

• India has a privileged geostrategic location: at the Ocean’s centre. It has over 7,500 Km of coastline. 95% of India’s trade by volume and 68% of trade by value come via the Indian Ocean. Nearly 80% of India’s crude oil requirement is imported by sea via the Indian Ocean. Global powers are hedging on India’s obligations for a peaceful and rule based IOR.
• Shared interests in the IOR: global Interest overlap with India’s objectives outlined under SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) like preserving freedom of navigation for commercial shipping, sustainably and equitably harnessing the Indian Ocean’s natural resources, Countering piracy, terrorism, smuggling, and illegal weapons proliferation etc.
• capability to counter the growing clout of China: Relative to other countries advantages in terms of economic and military capability.

India has already taken various steps for democratic governance of the IOR. These include

• Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): forum of Indian Ocean littoral states seeks to “increase maritime co-operation among navies” of the Indian Ocean littoral states
• Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA):on maritime security, trade, cultural promotion, tourism, resource management and governance.
• Humanitarian And Disaster Relief Operations (HADAR):India first responder to humanitarian crises in the IOR.
• Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA): India aspires to become net security provider in the IOR. It has taken following initiatives in this direction.
• Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC): Indian Navy and Coast Guard, it is the nodal center of the National Command Control Communications and Intelligence (NC3) Network. It provides information and surveillance over India’s entire coastline, along with its outlying islands, in real time.
• Information Fusion Center for the India Ocean Region (IFC-IOR): provide regional MDA by fusing large data sets originating from multiple sources.
• White shipping agreement allows Indian Navy exchange data on commercial traffic. This helps create a better picture of movements and vessels at sea.

What challenges are poised before India in the IOR?

India’s influence in the IOR has shrunk despite its advantages of location astride the Indian Ocean and historical links in East and South Africa, the Gulf, and South East Asia. This is because of

• China’s increasing economic and military footprint in the region: By providing large loans on generous repayment terms, investing in major infrastructure projects and support in the UN Security Council (UNSC). It also has a naval base in Djibouti and some facilities in Seychelles and Mauritius
• Capacity and capital constraints: logistical challenges in the southern and western Indian Ocean. Also allocation of 15% of India’s military budget, the Indian Navy has limited capacity and resources to strengthen its security efforts in the IOR.
• Dysfunctionality of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC): Being located at the centre of Indian Ocean affects that larger space directly as it hinders trade and connectivity among IOR countries
• New geopolitical challenges and strategic dilemmas: As the world is moving in the direction of multi-polarity, balance of power and clash of values among countries presents a challenge for India
• Russia raising concerns about India’s participation in QUAD

How India could overcome various challenges to play a significant role in IOR?

• Maintaining strategic autonomy: for creation of balances among competing global powers. India need to strengthen bilateral, trilateral and multilateral mechanism like 'JAI' (Japan, Australia, and India), India-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and others
• Strengthening capability: overcome domestic and strategic challenges will determine its place in the world particularly in the IOR. India is now focused on the right issues: digitization, urbanisation, rural growth, infrastructure, skills etc.
• Improving regional connectivity and trade: re-energizing SAARC should be one of India’s key foreign policy priorities. The free trade agreement (FTA) of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) should be finalized with the utmost priority.
• Keeping cooperation with small littoral states at the heart of India’s foreign policy: will have a direct impact on India’s security. India’s relationship with small littoral states in the IOR will shape its role in the Indo-Pacific. 

The entire world is focused on coming to term with rising China. In this exercise India will occupy a significant place by virtue of its location, size, potential, history and culture. If there is a common approach, it is of them simultaneously strengthening capacity internally, assessing the external landscape and seeking understanding with China.

European Union (EU) released “EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific”.

Why an EU Indo-Pacific strategy?

• Assertive China: future of the EU-China relations started making imprints in the minds of the policymakers of EU member states as well.
• Growing US-China rivalry and how that could negatively impact European interests
• Greater role in Indo-Pacific: to bear greater responsibility and to have an impact on the affairs of this region, Tide of international politics has shifted to Asia in general, and the Indo-Pacific in particular, with the economic rise of countries like India, China, Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia among others.
• Securing Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOCs): Given Europe has mostly engaged with this region in the trading realm, security of the SLOCs and the safe passage of commercial vessels is an important concern for the EU.
• Other imminent issues which the Indo-Pacific region like the potential risks of emerging technologies, ensuring supply chain resilience, and countering disinformation.

Key objectives of EU Indo-Pacific Strategy

• Solidify and defend the rules-based international order, by promoting inclusive and effective multilateral cooperation based on shared values and principles
• It is pointed more towards building on established partnerships and developing new ones with like-minded countries in the Indo-Pacific.
• Promote a level playing field and an open and fair environment for trade and investment.
• Establish mutually supportive trade and economic relations with the region that foster inclusive economic growth and stability, and promote and facilitate connectivity.
• EU is seeking new digital partnerships with Japan, South Korea and Singapore, which would enhance cooperation and interoperability on emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence.
• It further looks to complete and finalise EU trade negotiations with Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand; and resuming trade negotiations and starting investment negotiations with India.
• Pursue its long-standing multilateral and regional cooperation with the United Nations and Bretton Woods Institutions, ASEAN, African Union etc.
• Contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to addressing climate change and environmental degradation on land and in the ocean.