India's Maritime Dominance

Far beyond India's western shores, the Indian Navy (IN) stands as a guardian of global trade in the bustling waters of the Gulf of Aden. Since December 2023, this force has undertaken its largest and most decisive deployment ever. It has rescued over 18 commercial vessels from the clutches of piracy—most notably from those affiliated with the Somali Al Shabab. Operating in the strategic confluence of the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, the Navy's robust presence underscores its growing prowess in projecting power across the vast oceans and solidifying its stature as a principal security provider in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Amidst the backdrop of an increasingly assertive China, these operations do more than safeguard waters; they signal the maturity of an Indian strategic vision that has been over two decades in the making. With each successful mission, the Indian Navy not only earns global accolades but also cements India's role as a rising major power within the intricate geopolitical tapestry of the Indo-Pacific, offering both a stern warning to its competitors and a promise of stability to its partners.

The resurgence prompted the IN to deploy significant resources to protect commercial shipping, under “Operation Sankalp”. By March 2024, the Navy had successfully rescued 18 ships from Somali pirates. Notable operations include the rescue of a Liberia-flagged vessel with 21 crew members, including 15 Indian nationals, by the IN’s Marine Commandos stationed on the INS Chennai, which towed the ship to safety in Bahrain after thwarting an attempted hijacking. On January 26, the INS Visakhapatnam responded to a distress call from a British ship following a Houthi missile attack. Later in January, the patrol boat INS Sumitra executed successful rescues of two hijacked vessels off the Somali coast; first, an Iranian-flagged ship on January 28 and then another with 19 Pakistani crew members within 48 hours. In March, the recapture of the Maltese-flagged bulk carrier MV Ruen from Somali pirates, evacuating 17 crew members and capturing 35 pirates, 1400 miles off the Indian coast.

According to the Indian Naval Chief, this period has seen the most extensive deployment in the region's history, with 21 warships, including the state-of-the-art INS Vishakhapatnam and INS Kolkata, and over 5,000 personnel in rotation, conducting boardings and inspections on more than 1,000 ships, supported by long-endurance Sea Guardian drones, and P-8I surveillance aircraft. Occasionally, the fleet's presence exceeded a dozen warships. This massive deployment, both in scale and scope, represents a dramatic shift from previous naval operations in these waters. The IN’s proactive stance has drawn praise from several world leaders, bolstering its morale and enhancing its global reputation. The roots of this success can be traced back to India’s evolving maritime strategy, which has significantly broadened in scope and ambition over the past two decades, naturally leading us to examine the developments that have shaped this strategic trajectory.

At the beginning of the millennium, India recognized the need for a dominant position in the maritime domain by building a modern navy. This need arose out of three key developments: the need to counterbalance China's growing naval influence in the Indian Ocean, a sphere traditionally seen as vital to Indian interests; the imperative to protect its burgeoning international trade; and the deepening strategic partnership with partner nations, particularly the U.S., which views India as a pivotal partner in its Indo-Pacific strategy.

 In 2004, India unveiled its first maritime doctrine, highlighting the strategic importance of leveraging the Indian Ocean to serve national interests. At the dawn of the twenty-first century, India recognized the IOR as a crucial hub for global maritime trade, yet it was not perceived as the intensely contested geopolitical arena it is known as today. This perspective evolved with the 2007 revision into the "Freedom of Use of Seas: Indian Military Strategy," laying the groundwork for a more assertive maritime stance with an emphasis on force multipliers, quality of weapons, sensors, and networking of platforms.

A significant update came in 2009 with the release of a new Indian Maritime Doctrine, which articulated a more robust stance on the use of force and clearly delineated the IN's areas of strategic interest. Adjacent waters were designated as primary areas of interest, signifying their immediate significance, while regions extending towards Africa and Australia were classified as secondary areas of interest, indicating India's expanding maritime horizon.

The vision further matured in 2015 with the introduction of the updated Indian Maritime Doctrine. This iteration emphasized three core objectives: firstly, to establish India as the predominant naval power and principal security provider in the IOR; secondly, it broadened India's strategic focus areas from the 2009 doctrine, incorporating vital chokepoints such as the Straits of Hormuz, Bab el Mandab, Malacca, Lombok, Sunda, and Ombai within its primary interest zones, while extending its secondary interest areas to include the Mediterranean Sea, Atlantic Ocean, South China Sea and distant reaches of the Pacific. Lastly, the 2015 doctrine marked India's inaugural use of the term "Indo-Pacific," signifying a strategic pivot and India's increasing prominence in regional geopolitics. This shift from Asia-Pacific to Indo-Pacific not only reflects India's growing influence but also underscores its ambition to play a central role in shaping the maritime security architecture of the region. This strategic pivot coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative, which emphasized a cooperative approach to maritime governance based on trust, respect for international norms, peaceful dispute resolution, and enhanced maritime cooperation. This holistic strategy illustrates India's evolving role as a central figure in not just regional, but global maritime security, aligning with its ongoing efforts to combat piracy and assert its influence in the IOR.

The IN’s successful anti-piracy operations in the Western Indian Ocean unequivocally signals India's emergence as a responsible global power. These actions showcase India's readiness and capability to safeguard maritime commerce and deter piracy, thereby reinforcing India’s stature on the global stage. This deployment not only demonstrates India's willingness to take a more active military role in its namesake ocean but also assures international actors of its strategic intentions and capabilities.

This robust display serves to reassure the U.S., which views India as a crucial partner in the Indo-Pacific security architecture. The recent years have witnessed a growth in defense cooperation between the two nations, particularly in naval logistics and technology, and through joint exercises such as the Malabar series and the "Tiger Triumph" amphibious operations exercise. The IN's actions exemplify the type of burden-sharing that the United States has long encouraged its allies in Asia and Europe to embrace.

Furthermore, these developments send a potent message to Beijing—underscoring that the Indian Ocean remains under India's watchful eye, and any destabilizing activities in this area will meet a formidable response. Amidst escalating tensions with China, India has leveraged these operations to demonstrate its modern military prowess and readiness to maintain order in its maritime backyard. This show of force is particularly poignant as China faces criticism for its perceived inaction against threats like the Houthi and Somali pirate attacks.

The deployment also reassures other Indian Ocean Rim nations of India's commitment to regional security. This is evidenced by India's recent military collaborations, including significant exercises with the Philippines, “Samudra Shakti” with Indonesia, and the inaugural exercise with ASEAN countries. These initiatives are part of a broader engagement strategy aimed at fostering cooperation among middle powers in the Indo-Pacific theatre.

Adding to its strategic depth, the IN commissioned INS Jatayu on March 6^th. This naval base on the strategically located Minicoy island in Lakshadweep near the 8 and 9-degree channel—a critical maritime route linking the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz to East Asia—enhances India's ability to conduct sustained operations in the Indian Ocean.

While India may not become a global naval superpower overnight, the success of operations like Sankalp are crucial milestones in the evolution of India's maritime capabilities. Such successes in counter-piracy operations not only provide valuable real-world experience for IN personnel but also test their capacity for sustained long-term deployments beyond territorial waters. Importantly, these actions help cultivate an image of India as a valuable contributor to global security and an increasingly competent force in the maritime domain.

In the words of maritime strategy expert Alessio Patalano, we are entering a "maritime century," where the prosperity of open economies heavily depends on secure maritime connectivity, both physical and digital. Through its strategic initiatives and naval deployments, India is well-positioned to ensure the safety of international trade routes while advancing its broader strategic objectives.

Anshu Meghe is the founder of Astrea Policy Associates, a firm specializing in political risk advisory and public advocacy. Previously, he served as a Chief Minister’s Fellow with the Government of Maharashtra in India. Anshu completed his Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University.