What is the issue?
- The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) has long been significant and struggle for power in the region is gaining importance.
- In this context, India must assess its maritime capabilities and respond with appropriate decisions.
How are the power equations changing in the IOR?
- Control over the sea lanes of commerce played a very important part in earlier colonial years.
- But this had started dwindling in later years, as colonisation began to give way.
- US - The United States gradually took over the dominant roles in the IOR.
- For the last 50 years, it has been the only nation with credible maritime power in the region.
- Until two decades ago, even India was content to let the US act as the net security provider in the IOR.
- China - Having become a major importer of energy from this region, China is also now seeking an IOR presence.
- Towards this end, its ships and submarines have started making presence in these waters frequently.
- While facilities such as refuelling and the like are available at most ports, these cannot equal the support that a base could offer.
- So, China is seeking to set up facilities at Gwadar (Pakistan) and Djibouti (in the Horn of Africa), which could support 10,000 personnel each.
- While none of them can be said to be bases, they will give China the IOR credibility that it could otherwise not have.
- India - The Indian Ocean Region holds a key to India's security interests.
- Operating facilities in Indo-Pacific countries are essential for increasing India's naval reach.
- It is also essential for making India a credible maritime power.
How does the future look?
- Countries are increasingly seeing support stations as vital for any meaningful operations at sea.
- These are places where forces could be positioned, replenished and deployed for reasonably long durations.
- Looked at holistically, in addition to the US, only China and India seem to hold considerable prospects to have some IOR capabilities.
- China does have a good number of seagoing platforms, but presently not have the bases to enable their sustained operations.
- On the other hand, India, with its regional presence, has the infrastructure but not the numbers.
What lies before India?
- China - A hostile presence, especially of the Chinese, can put India's assets under great threat.
- Contrarily, India can interdict Chinese supply lines, if needed, provided such capabilities are created.
- India must therefore work on this line.
- Indo-Pacific - India must also focus on mutually compatible engagement of the principal Indo-Pacific littorals.
- These include, apart from the US, Japan and Australia many other less focussed countries which include -
- South Africa and Mozambique which sit astride the southern routes.
- Mauritius and Seychelles, which guard the approaches to the northern waters.
- countries of the Gulf region.
- immediate neighbours such as Sri Lanka and Maldives.
- While bases at these places might not be feasible, operating facilities which enhance reach and endurance are needed.
- Besides, India must make up the deficiencies, especially of submarines, whose numbers have fallen considerably.
- Ships which can transport desired forces across the seas are also important.
- Above all, the decision-making processes should be speeded up to enhance appropriately our maritime capabilities.
Source: Business Standard
