Indian Ocean Maritime Security Cooperation Needs Coherent Indian Leadership

Maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is a central issue for regional and extra-regional actors. Traditional and non-traditional security challenges largely converge at sea as they impact economic, environmental, energy, human, food and national security. As the major regional power and an emerging Asian great power, India’s willingness and capacity to provide strategic leadership is critical to engendering a cooperative spirit of shared destiny. India’s growing naval capabilities indicate a strong commitment to maritime security. However, its strategic policy ambiguity and lack of transparency undermines trust and confidence. Allegations of civil-military dissonance and the lack of political will for reform raises questions about strategic competence. India’s willingness and capacity for cooperative regional security leadership presents regional risks. The new Indian government is presented with significant challenges to reform domestic politico-bureaucratic-military arrangements in order to enhance external and internal consistency and credibility, and improve openness and coherency.