An Indian Sail To Navigate The Maritime Environment

Context: India’s leadership in the debate on maritime security has boosted its standing as a key player in the shared commons.

Background: 

• Recently Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the UNSC High­Level Open Debate on “Enhancing Maritime Security: A Case For International Cooperation”, convened by India.
• Describing the oceans as a common heritage for humankind and a lifeline for the future of the planet, he charted out the significance of India in tackling the challenging maritime environment.

Significance of India in ensuring maritime security:

• India’s historical and civilisational links in maritime relations:
  • The very word navigation is derived from the Sanskrit word “navgath”.
  • India’s maritime history goes back to trade with Mesopotamia 4,500 years ago. Lothal was a key maritime centre of the Indus Valley civilisation.
  • Kutch and Kathiawar, as well as the Malabar coast, enjoyed ancient links to Africa.
  • In the 15th century, Vasco de Gama was piloted to the west coast of India from Zanzibar by a Gujarati seaman.
  • Buddhism and Hinduism spread to Southeast Asia by the maritime route. Even Islam took the maritime route from India to Southeast Asia.
• Maritime security as India’s strategic priority:
  • Geographical factors: India has a natural seaward orientation with a long coastline and large island chains spread-eagled across the Indian Ocean.
  • Strategic factors: India’s natural interests stretch across both the Indian and Pacific Oceans as reflected in its inclusive Indo-Pacific vision, reiterating the relevance of SAGAR (Security And Growth For All In The Region).
  • Freedom of navigation and unimpeded commerce is key to the spread of prosperity: Critical supply chains depend on the concept of mare liberum (open seas).
• Global trade and economy depends on maritime security: 
  • 90%  of global trade is conducted on the high seas, and it continues to be the most cost-effective mode of transport.
  • Disruption of sea lanes of communication has global repercussions: The blockage in the Suez Canal in 2021 interrupted the flow of trade worth billions of dollars.
  • Today, a naval blockade at any choke-point in the Indo-Pacific could prove catastrophic.
• Towards peaceful dispute settlement: Rooted in India’s values of peace and non-violence.
  • Lead by example: India’s acceptance of the award by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2014 paved way for India and Bangladesh to put aside their maritime dispute and forge closer ties.
  • Emphasis on the primacy of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS): As the legal framework governing all maritime activity.
• Furthering disaster management cooperation: India can play a leadership role as
  • India’s role as ‘first responder’ in the Indian Ocean: Successful in thwarting piracy or providing relief after the Boxing Day tsunami in 2004.
  • The Indian Navy’s state-of-the-art Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) based in Gurugram hosts officers from the US, Japan, France, Australia and the UK. 
  • The Indian Navy regularly offers a large number of training slots to friendly countries.
• Addressing environmental concerns: 
  • Plastic pollution is choking all forms of marine life, poisoning the entire food chain endangering the lives of millions. There’s need for furthering innovations and investment to address the issue.
• Development of connectivity and infrastructure: Heightened over concerns on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). 
  • India stands for openness and transparency in the execution of projects, based on local priorities, with in-built fiscal viability and environmental sustainability. 
  • The US, Japan and Australia are also promoting better standards for global infrastructure through the Blue Dot Network.