Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses
मनोहर पर्रिकर रक्षा अध्ययन एवं विश्लेषण संस्थान

R. Vignesh

Dr. R. Vignesh is an Associate Fellow at the Centre for Military Affairs, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA). He joined the Institute in August 2021 and specialises in the geopolitical dynamics of the Indo-Pacific region, with a particular focus on their implications for India’s national security and the broader security architecture of South Asia.

He holds a Master of Arts and an M.Phil. in Defence and Strategic Studies from the University of Madras and has qualified the UGC-NET in the same discipline. In 2016, he was awarded the prestigious Research Fellowship by the History Division of the Ministry of Defence to pursue doctoral research on the topic: “New Gunboat Diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific and its Implications for India’s Maritime Security.” He received his Ph.D. from the University of Madras in January 2022.

Before joining MP-IDSA, Dr. Vignesh served as a Lecturer in the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies at the University of Madras. He has also contributed to national curriculum development as a lesson writer for the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), preparing educational content for senior secondary-level textbooks in Military History and Military Studies.

Selected Publications

  1. Sujan Chinoy, R. Vignesh, and Mayuri Banerjee (Eds.). India and the Emerging World Order. New Delhi: Pentagon Press, 2025.
  2. Vignesh (2025). “India: Navigating Great Power Competition.” In Sujan Chinoy, R. Vignesh, and Mayuri Banerjee (Eds.), India and the Emerging World Order (pp. 30–50). New Delhi: Pentagon Press.
  3. Vignesh (2024). “Maritime Theatre of the Ukraine War.” In Sujan Chinoy, Abhay Kumar Singh, and Vivek Chadha (Eds.), Ukraine War: Military Perspectives and Strategic Reflections (pp. 159–183). New Delhi: Pentagon Press.
  4. Vignesh (2023). “The Vanguard Brigade: An Appraisal of the United Nations’ Rapid Deployment Capabilities.” India Quarterly: A Journal of International Affairs, 79(3). Sage Publications.
  5. Vignesh (2023). “Colombo Port City and its Implications for India’s Maritime Security.” In S. Utham Kumar Jamdhagni (Ed.), India’s Blue Pulse: Preparing for a Maritime Future (pp. 126–136). New Delhi: Vij Books India.
  6. Vignesh (2022). “The China Factor in Africa’s Path to Liberal Democracy.” Africa Review, 15(1). Brill.
  7. Vignesh (2018). “Gunboat Diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific.” Journal of Indian Ocean Studies, 26(2).
  8. Vignesh (2018). “Gunboat Diplomacy in the South China Sea and its Implications for Regional Security.” In G. Jayachandra Reddy (Ed.), South China Sea: Emerging Scenario (pp. 195–209). New Delhi: Pentagon Press.
  9. Vignesh (2017). “Sustainable Development and Climate Change: A South Asian Perspective.” In S. Manivasakan (Ed.), India’s March Towards Development – 2030: Issues and Challenges (pp. 29–35). Chennai: University of Madras.
  10. Vignesh (2014). “Women in Armed Forces.” In S. Sakthi, A. Bhanu Gayatri Devi, S. Kalavathi, and A. Vennila (Eds.), Woman Power and Social Change (pp. 191–194). Chennai: Queen Mary’s College.
Associate Fellow

Publication

Redlines Redrawn: Operation Sindoor and India’s New Normal, by Maj Gen Bipin Bakshi, Air Mshl Rajesh Kumar, Amb Anil Trigunayat and Brig Akhelesh Bhargava

On 22 April 2025, four terrorists armed with automatic rifles carried out a brutal attack on unsuspecting tourists in the scenic Pahalgam valley of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). This heinous terrorist attack tragically claimed the lives of 26 tourists, thereby significantly disrupting the surge of tourism in J&K that had grown considerably after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. This attack serves as a major setback to J&K’s trajectory towards normalcy and underscores Pakistan’s consistent subversive attempts to disrupt peace in the Union Territory. To the Indian public, the Pahalgam attacks evoked the painful memories of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, wherein Pakistan employed a similar modus operandi to target innocent civilians. However, unlike 26/11, the Pahalgam attack occurred at a time when India’s political leadership had repeatedly affirmed its policy of zero tolerance to terrorism.

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India’s Role as ‘Preferred Security Partner’ in the Indian Ocean Region: A Strategic Assessment of Maritime Leadership and Regional Cooperation

Over the last few years India has been progressively attempting to establish itself as a ‘preferred security partner’ in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). This transformation represents a fundamental shift from India’s historically passive maritime posture described by strategic thinkers as a manifestation of its ‘sea blindness’ to a robust maritime-oriented outlook characterised by proactive regional leadership, enhanced naval capabilities, multilateral security arrangements and comprehensive engagement with littoral states. This essay examines the evolution, mechanisms and implications of India’s emergence as a preferred security partner in the IOR.

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R. Vignesh and Shayesta Nishat Ahmed’s Co-authored Article ‘Strait of Hormuz is Iran’s trump card. Why has US superiority not secured the seas?’ Published in The Print

MP IDSA scholars, Dr R. Vignesh and Dr Shayesta Nishat Ahmed’s co-authored article ‘Strait of Hormuz is Iran’s trump card. Why has US superiority not secured the seas?’ has been published in ‘The Print’ on 31 March 2026. The article focuses on how the US-Iran war is redrawing global sea trade routes. Read Complete Article [+] Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India.

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R Vignesh’s Article ‘Securing the seas: How Iran’s cable threats highlight the need for maritime security’ Published in The Week

Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr R Vignesh’s article ‘Securing the seas: How Iran's cable threats highlight the need for maritime security’ has been published in ‘The Week’ on 29 March 2026. In the evolving West Asia crisis, vast networks of undersea cables are increasingly becoming targets of subversion, says Dr Vignesh. Read Complete Article [+] Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are personal and do not in any way reflect the views of MP-IDSA or the Government of India.

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The AUKUS Submarine Roadmap: A Bridge Too Far?

The year 2025 has proven to be a particularly challenging period for the AUKUS trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US). The developments and discourses since the beginning of the year indicate the onset of a more difficult phase for the AUKUS, marked by heightened political uncertainty and growing geopolitical complexity. Following three years of study and tangible progress made under the agreement, the re-election of Donald Trump to the White House for a second term has raised doubts among the observers regarding the US’ continued commitment to the AUKUS.

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