•  
  •  
 

Author Biography

Chinmoyee Das is a Doctoral fellow in the Centre for South Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She did her masters in Political Science from Gauhati University, Assam and her M.Phil. from CSAS, SIS, JNU. She has presented research papers in various national and international seminars. Her research interests are in international relations which include maritime diplomacy, naval diplomacy, politics and government in South Asia, India’s Foreign Policy, India’s interests and strategies in the Indian Ocean. The topic of her doctoral thesis is ‘India’s maritime diplomacy in the Indian Ocean, 2004-2018’ and has presented papers involving India’s diplomatic and security concerns in the Indian Ocean.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5038/1944-0472.12.2.1726

Subject Area Keywords

Diplomacy, International relations, National security, Security policy, Strategy

Abstract

Being a maritime nation with considerable economic and military power, India has shown keen interest in demonstrating its role as a major security provider in the IOR. In the Southwest Indian Ocean too, India has sought to develop a security presence and strengthen its position by capitalising on its historic ties with the littoral nations of the region through provision of military training, defence equipment and security advisors. India’s efforts are mostly directed at making the Indian influence more visible in the strategic affairs of the region that seem to be clouded by the increasing Chinese forays into the region.

The paper evaluates the strategic relationships through the maritime dimensions of India’s engagement with these littoral nations. The intensity of India’s efforts to be seen as an important maritime security providing power of the region and the response of these littoral states to India’s call for greater cooperation forms an important thrust of the paper. The article argues that India’s national security concerns and great power ambitions manifest itself in India’s engagement in the region. However, greater exploitation of its strategic ties with Mauritius and Seychelles hold the key for greater maritime strategic influence in the region.

Share

COinS