India’s new vision for maritime security is comprehensively articulated in Ensuring Secure Seas: Indian Maritime Security Strategy, a 2015 document by the Indian Navy.
This document clarifies that the Indian Navy’s interest areas now cover the Red Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, IOR Island nations, Southwest Indian Ocean and East Coast of Africa littoral countries among many other nations and areas. The South China Sea, East China Sea and Western Pacific Ocean and their littoral nations are included in the Indian Navy’s secondary priority areas.
The document highlights some key facets of the nautical dynamic in India’s maritime neighbourhood:
One, it acknowledges the hybrid nature of maritime challenges – the blurring of lines between traditional and non-traditional threats.
Two, it validates the use of the Navy as the primary instrument to secure the seas for economic purposes.
Equally, the document recognises India’s bilateral relationships in its maritime neighbourhood – a space where the Navy must operate in the spirit of mutual respect and with due regard for international law and established nautical norms.
