Securing the Indian Ocean (UPSC Current Affairs)

Relevance: General studies Paper 2 – International relation

Why in news?

• India recently requested that the UN Security Council hold an open debate on boosting maritime security.

What was its objective?

• The debate's goal is to highlight the importance of effective international maritime cooperation in responding to natural and anthropogenic challenges to maritime security in a holistic manner.

Why is maritime security critical for India?

• Protecting its huge coastline – With a coastline of over 7,500 kilometres, India has a natural interest in enhancing maritime security.
• Marine commerce route – The Indian Ocean region transports 75 percent of the world's maritime trade and 50 percent of daily worldwide oil consumption.
• Securing Sea Lanes of Communication - Three major Sea Lanes Of Communication (SLOCS) play a critical role in energy security and economic success in the Indian Ocean
• The Bab al-Mandab (which transports the majority of Asia's international trade with its major trading partners in Europe and America) is a SLOC that connects the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean.
• The Strait of Hormuz is a SLOC that connects the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean (transporting the bulk of energy exports to major import destinations like India, ASEAN, and East Asia),
• The Straits of Malacca (SLOC) connects the Indian and Pacific Oceans (essential for the smooth flow of trade between ASEAN, East Asia, Russia's Far East, and the United States).
• 75 percent of worldwide marine trade and 50 percent of daily global oil consumption pass through the Indian Ocean region.

Maritime Initiatives of India:

• The aftermath of the 2004 tsunami, which wreaked havoc on human and natural resources, prompted the United Nations to establish an Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System in 2005. A multinational network is working to prevent such destruction from happening again.
• Anti-Piracy Operations: In response to the growing threat of piracy off the coast of Somalia to shipping in the western Indian Ocean since 2007, the Indian Navy joined a UNSC-mandated 60-country Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia.
• SAGAR Policy: India's SAGAR policy is an integrated regional framework that was unveiled by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a visit to Mauritius in March 2015. The role of India as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean region is one of SAGAR's pillars (IOR).
• India will continue to strengthen the marine security and economic resilience of friendly countries in the Indian Ocean region. A more integrated and cooperative focus on the future of the IOR, which would improve the chances for the region's long-term development.
• India accepted a tribunal award on the maritime border dispute between India and Bangladesh issued by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It aimed to give a boost to successful international economic cooperation among the Bay of Bengal's littoral governments (BIMSTEC).
• Data Sharing: Sharing information about dangers to commercial shipping is a crucial part of improving maritime security.
• In this backdrop, India created in Gurugram in 2018 an International Fusion Centre (IFC) for the Indian Ocean area. The Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard jointly administrate the IFC. The goal of the IFC is to raise Maritime Domain Awareness about safety and security issues.

What are the prospects for the future?

• International Cooperation: Maintaining international cooperation to improve maritime security necessitates two complementary policy and operational frameworks.
• An approach based on the rule of law is required to assess the UNCLOS' operational efficacy.
• Especially in terms of enforcing its rules on freedom of navigation, sustainable maritime resource use, and peaceful conflict resolution.
• Securing Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOCs): Securing SLOCs that cross oceans is critical to improving maritime security. As a result, the global debate should center on ensuring that governments have equal and unfettered access to SLOCs while also settling conflicts through peaceful ways.
• Engaging the Private Sector: The private sector must play a larger role in the marine domain, whether it is in shipping or in sustainable development through the Blue Economy.
• In addition, the maritime domain can be used to deliver essential submarine fiber-optic connections that enable the Digital Economy.
• The UNSC's capacity to respond to the argument by approving a multi-stakeholder approach to improving maritime security would be a significant result, creating a precedent for maintaining "multi-dimensional" security in the twenty-first century.