“SAGAR to MAHASAGAR: Strategic and Development Partnerships”

Day One: Tuesday, 24 February 2026

Inaugural Session: Special Address by Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy, Director General, MP-IDSA

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Sujan R. Chinoy extended a warm welcome to the delegates and attendees. He commenced the inaugural session by recalling the themes of the two previous iterations of the South Asia Conference (SAC) held in 2023. The first conference was organised under the theme “One Earth, One Family, One Future” in the context of India’s Presidency of the G20, while the second centred on “Achieving Economic Integration in South Asia.”

He observed that this year’s SAC is being held against the backdrop of significant transformations at both the regional and international levels. In setting the context for the deliberations, Amb. Chinoy outlined key developments at the national level in India, across the South Asian neighbourhood, and at the global level.

India’s Resolute Counter-Terrorism Posture. In April 2025, Pakistan-backed terrorists carried out a deadly attack in Pahalgam, claiming innocent lives, including that of a Nepali national. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist safe havens and sending a clear message to both perpetrators and their sponsors. The operation marked a decisive shift in India’s counter-terrorism posture, establishing a ‘New Normal’ whereby no distinction would be made between terrorists and those who support, shelter, or sponsor them.

Political Transformations in South Asia. Since the last iteration of the SAC, South Asia has witnessed significant political transformations. Most notably, youth-led (“Gen Z”) movements in Bangladesh (2024) and Nepal (2025) have reshaped domestic political landscapes and signalled a generational shift in political participation.

Shifts in the Global Order. At the global level, the world is experiencing unprecedented turbulence. The rules-based international order, represented by the UN and its treaty-based agencies, has been significantly weakened, limiting its ability to address contemporary challenges such as economic recovery, climate action, and the resolution of protracted conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia. Major Powers are increasingly seeking to assert their influence outside the normative order, leveraging economic and military asymmetries to gain unilateral advantages.

US Unilateral Economic Measures. The world is currently grappling with the effects of reciprocal, and at times punitive, tariffs imposed by the United States on both allies and partners. These measures have created unprecedented economic uncertainties for South Asian countries. Despite these challenges, India has managed to safeguard its economic interests and maintain stability in the region.

Highlighting the developments outlined above, Amb. Chinoy noted that India has performed remarkably well despite global and regional turmoil. He emphasised that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has remained steadfast in safeguarding India’s strategic autonomy while engaging in pragmatic and patient negotiations. To substantiate this, Amb. Chinoy pointed to India’s recent economic achievements, including a pathbreaking trade agreement with the European Union (EU) and an interim trade deal with the United States, alongside other free trade agreements with the United Kingdom (UK), Australia, New Zealand, Oman, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mauritius, and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

Amb. Chinoy highlighted that the concept of ‘neighbourhood’ is no longer a static idea defined solely by geography. The rapid expansion of infrastructure, connectivity, and economic cooperation has redefined neighbourhoods, leading to overlapping and interconnected spheres of interaction. As a result, neighbourhoods can no longer be viewed as exclusive domains. He identified two distinct paradigms arising from this development. The first creates situations where shared neighbourhoods become contested spaces, while the second offers opportunities to foster collaborative spaces for mutual benefit. Amb. Chinoy emphasised that efforts should focus on the latter paradigm, promoting cooperation and collaboration rather than competition or conflict.

Laying emphasis on the ‘Indo-Pacific’ construct, Amb. Chinoy noted that it represents a more inclusive neighbourhood than the traditional Asia-Pacific, which was historically limited to a few countries along Asia’s eastern seaboard. He observed that rejecting the Indo-Pacific framework in favour of outdated concepts like the Asia-Pacific effectively perpetuates exclusivity for a select few.  Speaking on India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, Amb. Chinoy highlighted that India aims to assist regional partners by sharing its resources and capacities for the broader good, without expecting strict reciprocity. This approach is reflected in India’s responses during crises, including natural disasters and economic emergencies, demonstrating a commitment to regional welfare and cooperation.

With his remarks establishing a contextual backdrop for the thematic deliberations of the 16th South Asia Conference, Amb. Chinoy proceeded to highlight key aspects under the theme “SAGAR to MAHASAGAR: Strategic and Development Partnerships.”

SAGAR to MAHASAGAR: Broadening India’s Maritime Vision. Unveiled exactly 11 years ago, the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) framework was primarily regional, focusing on South Asia and neighbouring states of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). In contrast, MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions)  embodies a broader vision, extending beyond the IOR to encompass the shared aspirations of the Global South, thereby imparting a new strategic and developmental dimension to India’s maritime and regional engagement.

An Inclusive Vision for Global South. By encompassing South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa, MAHASAGAR seeks to align policies across the extended neighbourhood, fostering economic prosperity through enhanced trade and strategic stability via cooperative security frameworks. This approach reinforces the strategic autonomy of Global South countries amid geostrategic uncertainties and advances their shared interests in multilateral forums. Importantly, the Global South is a geopolitical rather than strictly geographic concept, encompassing countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America that collectively represent the developing world.

A Framework for Economic Integration. On the economic front, MAHASAGAR aims to link South Asia’s 1.9 billion-strong market with the dynamic economies of Southeast Asia and the resource-rich states of Africa, fostering greater regional economic integration within India’s extended neighbourhood.

Promoting Maritime Security Cooperation. Strengthening maritime cooperation and security is a core objective of MAHASAGAR. Strategically, it enhances maritime stability through initiatives such as the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), Colombo Security Conclave (CSC), Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). India has further bolstered regional coordination by establishing International Fusion Centres (IFCs), notably the IFC-IOR in the Indian Ocean, hosted by the Indian Navy, to improve information-sharing and collaborative responses.

Harnessing the Potential for Blue-Economy. Through MAHASAGAR, India recognises the importance of leveraging ocean resources for collective regional progress. This includes tapping deep-seabed resources for critical minerals, governed by the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the regulatory body established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Human-Centric Outlook to Development. Through MAHASAGAR, India seeks to promote a human-centric approach to development, encompassing digital public infrastructure, climate action, and capacity building. India’s strategy ensures that technological advances in cyber, space, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are harnessed for the benefit of humanity. The recently concluded AI Impact Summit, hosted by India, produced a declaration endorsed by 89 countries and international organisations, reflecting a broad-based global consensus on leveraging AI for economic growth and social good.

In his concluding remarks, Amb. Chinoy emphasised that expanding neighbourhoods are complex and present myriad challenges that require a stable order. He noted that achieving such an order depends on the preservation of sovereignty, independence, strategic autonomy, and a balance of power rooted in Westphalian principles of statehood. He underscored that any order imposed through military force, economic coercion, or the weaponisation of soft power would be detrimental to both regional and global peace.

He highlighted that India’s approach is to address challenges collaboratively, as equals, resolving disputes through peaceful negotiations rather than overwhelming unilateral power. Additionally, he stressed that regional development projects and assistance must respect the priorities and sensitivities of host nations. With these remarks, Amb. Chinoy formally initiated the deliberations of the 16th South Asia Conference.

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Report Prepared By Dr. R.Vignesh, Associate Fellow, Military Affairs Centre, MP-IDSA