Maritime Security

You are here

Home
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Whatsapp
  • Linkedin
  • Print

    • Tackling Somali Piracy Ashore: Maritime Security and Geopolitics in the Indian Ocean

    As high-profile incidents of piracy become more common off Somalia, strategists have taken to urging the US government to send expeditionary forces ashore. The article uses history and Clausewitzian theory to estimate the nature of the threat and the likely efficacy of a land campaign. Even successful operations would entail costs exceeding the value of the political stakes. For this reason alone, going ashore is inadvisable.

    James R. Holmes
    September 2010

    Improving Policy Responses to Piracy in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Region: What Role for India?

    The participation of the Indian navy in anti-piracy operations off the Somali coast is perceived by many as a manifestation of India's apparent willingness to take on a larger role on the global stage. This article explores the possibility for India to play a more important role in solving the Somali piracy crisis.

    Marie Christine Boilard
    July 2010

    Kovid Kumar asked: What are the future prospects of India and Japan maritime relations?

    Rajaram Panda replies: The present level of cooperation between India and Japan in the maritime domain is good and the future could be better. Both are heavily dependent on imports of oil from the Persian Gulf. Therefore securing critical energy supply routes provides scope for close naval cooperation. India’s geographical position qualifies it to play a critical strategic role in ensuring maritime safety. The Indian Navy has proved its usefulness in this regard and the Japanese are grateful for the Indian Navy’s rescue of the Japanese vessel MV Alondra Rainbow which was hijacked by pirates in November 1999. The Eight-fold Initiatives for Strengthening Japan-India Global Partnership of April 2005 provides the framework for joint exercises against piracy, information sharing, technical assistance, cooperation between Coast Guards, etc. As threats to maritime trade and energy supplies from State and non-State actors continue to increase, one can envisage consolidation of the existing cooperation between India and Japan as well as the further strengthening of such cooperation in future.

    China’s String of Pearls and India’s Enduring Tactical Advantage

    Not only would the presence of Chinese vessels present no real existential threat to Indian naval dominance in the region, it would also, paradoxically, provide the Indian Navy with a far greater degree of tactical flexibility in the event of a future conflict with China, be it on land or at sea.

    Iskander Rehman
    June 08, 2010

    Securing India's Littorals

    Given the complexity and trans-national nature of the challenges, the paper explores solutions for enhancing littoral security, maritime domain awareness and response mechanisms.

    V Sakhuja
    April 2009

    China and Francophone Western Indian Ocean Region: Implications for Indian Interests

    The cooperation between China and Francophone Western Indian Ocean region is now getting more visible, particularly after the China-Africa summit in November 2006. China's new thrust in the Francophone Western Indian Ocean region was though framed within China's broader Africa policy, however there is indeed the centrality of maritime considerations. China seems to have a higher level of physical presence in the Francophone Western Indian Ocean's various island states than would be warranted by its present levels of trade and other economic activities.

    Vidhan Pathak
    October 2009

    India, Maldives and the Indian Ocean

    The August 2009 bilateral pact will fortify the security of the Maldives as well as cater to Indian security concerns on the terrorism and geopolitical fronts.

    Balaji Chandramohan
    October 13, 2009

    Securing the Sea Frontier: China's Pursuit of Sovereignty Claims in the South China Sea

    China’s maritime territorial claims, and its diplomatic and military measures to attain them, have caused much regional concern in recent years. The expansive maritime sovereignty claims of China in the South China Sea flow from three key goals: the completion of its incomplete nationalist project of territorial consolidation and unifying the state; the desire to control the contested maritime periphery; and the garnering of sea-based resources such as oil and gas that have assumed critical importance for fuelling the economy of a rapidly modernising China.

    Sujit Dutta
    April 2005

    Piracy, Maritime Terror and Policy Response

    Event: 
    Fellows' Seminar
    Rajaram Panda
    July 10, 2009
    Time: 
    1030 to 1300 hrs

    The Growth of China's Navy: Implications for Indian Ocean Security

    The PLA Navy (PLAN)'s capabilities in key areas (assets, trained personnel, experience) are currently insufficient to support long-range sea lanes of communication (SLOC) defense missions. With sufficient effort, Beijing may eventually overcome these obstacles, but it would probably also have to acquire some form of overseas basing access, which its foreign policy still proscribes.

    Andrew S. Erickson
    July 2008

    Pages

    Top