External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has underscored the importance of fostering an “Indian Ocean Community” and emphasized the need for enhanced cooperation among regional nations to navigate current global challenges.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, Jaishankar’s remarks came during his participation in the 9th Indian Ocean Conference held in Mauritius earlier this week. The initiative to build an Indian Ocean consciousness has been a long-standing endeavor, supported by both Indian governments and think tanks, including the India Foundation, which has been instrumental in organizing these conferences.
The Indian Ocean, the world’s third-largest body of water, plays a pivotal role in global geography and trade. Extending from the Persian Gulf and Red Sea in the north to Australia in the south, and from Africa’s east coast to ASEAN countries in the east, it is intrinsically linked to India, which itself is bordered by the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Indian Ocean to its south. India’s significance is such that it lends its name to this vast ocean, a unique distinction among nations.
In recent decades, India has increasingly focused on its maritime neighbourhood. The liberalization of the Indian economy in the 1990s spurred the “Look East” policy, which has since evolved into the “Act East” policy under the current government. This strategic pivot reflects a renewed recognition of historical ties with Indian Ocean littoral states and a desire to strengthen these connections, which were historically interrupted by colonial rule.
However, the outward-looking maritime perspective of India’s coastal populations contrasts with the continental focus of its northern and northwestern plains and mountain regions. Historically, powerful empires based in the northern plains often overlooked maritime strategy, a situation that rendered the country vulnerable to seafaring European powers, particularly after the 18th century, their capabilities amplified by the Industrial Revolution.
During the Mauritius conference, Jaishankar alerted members of the Indian Ocean Community to the prevailing global disruptions that inevitably impact the region. “Global trends are a reality that cannot be ignored. The world is more competitive, fractured and inward looking than in the past,” he stated, highlighting the current global environment where the benefits of globalization are overshadowed by tendencies towards leverage and weaponization. This necessitates a collective pursuit of greater resilience and the cultivation of trusted partnerships.
Arising from these observations, Jaishankar advocated for “deeper cooperation amongst nations of the Indian Ocean.” He characterized the region as a “Global South Ocean,” emphasizing that challenges such as food, fuel, and fertilizer shortages, responses to natural disasters, and managing the consequences of conflicts increasingly require collective resilience among these nations.
The External Affairs Minister’s emphasis on the Indian Ocean as a “Global South Ocean” resonates with the reality that many states within the region belong to this demographic. For India, the largest nation in the Indian Ocean area, the path forward involves pursuing its legitimate ambitions amidst a landscape of significant contestation.
The Indian Ocean region has become a theatre of geopolitical competition, primarily between the United States and China. Despite neither being traditional Indian Ocean powers whose shores are washed by its waters, both maintain a substantial and assertive presence. Jaishankar acknowledged the deep concern over the ongoing conflict in the Arabian/Persian Gulf, stating, “All of us are deeply concerned about the conflict and would like to see an early return to normalcy.” He reiterated India’s firm opposition to the targeting of civilians, infrastructure, and commercial shipping, stressing the essential need for safe and unimpeded navigation, and the profound economic impact of the conflict on all nations.
The inability of Indian Ocean intergovernmental organizations to collectively voice concerns or call for an end to the conflict highlights the power differential between littoral states and major global powers. While most of the world shares the economic impact of such conflicts, Russia and China have been notable exceptions in criticizing the war and the US blockade.
The Indian Ocean features three critical choke points, the closure of which, such as the Strait of Hormuz, has had severe global economic repercussions. This underscores the necessity for Indian Ocean states to proactively consider measures to prevent future disruptions to these vital maritime passages. The India Foundation might find it pertinent to dedicate a future conference to this pressing issue.
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