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VOL. 8, ISSUE 3 (2026)
India’s maritime statecraft in the Indian ocean: Strategic implications for indo-pacific geopolitics
Authors
Pooja Langeh
Abstract
The Indian Ocean has become a pivotal maritime
region in contemporary international politics, serving as a strategic link
between Europe, Middle East, Asia, and Africa, through some of the world’s
busiest Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs). Nearly eighty per cent of global
seaborne oil trade transits this ocean, underscoring its importance for
international commerce, energy security, and regional stability. Against this
backdrop, maritime statecraft has evolved into a key instrument through which
states pursue strategic influence, strengthen regional partnerships, and
respond to shifting geopolitical realities. This paper examines the evolution
of India’s maritime statecraft in the Indian Ocean and assesses its strategic
implications for the emerging Indo-Pacific geopolitical order. Employing a
qualitative research methodology based on government documents, policy reports,
and scholarly literature, the study analyses the significant dimensions of
India’s maritime engagement, including naval modernization, maritime domain
awareness, maritime diplomacy, regional connectivity, humanitarian assistance
and disaster relief (HADR), and cooperation through regional and minilateral
mechanisms like as the Quad, the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), BIMSTEC,
and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI). The findings suggest that India
has developed a comprehensive maritime strategy that integrates security,
diplomacy, economic engagement, and institutional cooperation to expand its
strategic influence and support a stable and cooperative maritime environment.
The analysis further shows that the implementation of this strategy is shaped
by intensifying strategic competition, China’s expanding maritime activities in
the Indian Ocean, technological change, resource limitations, and evolving
maritime security challenges. The paper concludes that India's long-term
effectiveness as a maritime actor will depend on its ability to strengthen
maritime capabilities, improve policy coordination, encourage regional
cooperation, and adapt to the rapidly changing strategic environment of the
Indo-Pacific. The analysis of these developments advances the existing
discourse on Indo-Pacific geopolitics by illustrating the increasing centrality
of maritime capabilities and strategic practices in shaping India’s regional
engagement and its evolving approach to the Indian Ocean.
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Pages:66-71
How to cite this article:
Pooja Langeh "India’s maritime statecraft in the Indian ocean: Strategic implications for indo-pacific geopolitics". International Journal of Social Research and Development, Vol 8, Issue 3, 2026, Pages 66-71
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