Indian Defence Review

Maritime Security Challenges

On appreciating the importance of the maritime domain, possibly the first thought is of how to ensure maritime security. Threats in the maritime arena could emerge due to conflicts between nation states in the region or due to economic and political instability in littoral states affecting trade, shipping and other maritime activities.

It had become evident in the last few decades of the 20th century that there was a shift from traditional Naval confrontation on the high seas, to challenges in the littoral region and more so towards non-conventional maritime security challenges. Termed as LIMO (Low Intensity Maritime Operations), it would include maritime terrorism, piracy, drug and human trafficking, gun running, poaching or IUU (Illegal Unregulated and Unreported) fishing and illegal gathering of sensitive seismic and economic data. Natural disasters could also have a catastrophic impact on all maritime activities and the environment as such.

It would be apparent, that challenges to maritime security are varied and complex and often cutting across political boundaries, in turn calling for cooperation between nations to safeguard common maritime interests. Further, the seamless nature of maritime domain also enables a steady flow of threats and challenges from one area to another.

Hence need exists for a cooperative security approach to improve peace and security in the maritime domain.

Maritime Domain and 21st Century India

Bulk of India’s trade is through sea and amounts to 90 % of trade by volume and 70% by value. Value of Indian exports by sea is worth $298 billion and imports are worth $447 billion, which includes crude oil and LNG, to meet energy needs of the nation. As the Indian economy and industry grows further, Indian shipping, ports and supporting industries would continue to play a pivotal role in her economic growth. Another significant maritime issue for India was that towards the end of the 20th century, the world itself shifted focus from the earlier Euro Atlantic view to an Indo-Pacific one, making the region critically important to all major powers.

The Indo-Pacific region accounts for nearly 60% of the worlds GDP and 65% of population. Maritime trade and commerce transiting through the region including energy flows is equally significant. India’s location at the base of continental Asia, on top of the Indian Ocean close to the choke points of the ocean, gives it a vantage position in relation to the entire area from the African coast and West Asia, to South East Asia and beyond into the Pacific Ocean. It gives India an added stake in the security and stability of waters in the Indo-Pacific region more so as it is located close to the largest source of oil and natural gas in the world, i.e., the Gulf Nations as well as Central Asia.

21st century India clearly appreciates the importance of seas for her security and economic prosperity. This revival of interest in oceanic matters and a collaborative approach to maritime affairs is evident in the policy of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), enunciated by the Government of India and amplified at the Shangri La Dialogue in June 2018. In keeping with this vision and concept of working together with other nations in the maritime arena, India proposed at the East Asia Summit at Bangkok in November 2019, an Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), to manage, conserve, sustain, and secure the maritime domain.

Essentially, IPOI seeks to create partnerships with likeminded countries across the expanse from the Eastern shores of Africa to the Western Pacific Ocean, to ensure security and stability in the maritime domain through a non-treaty-based, cooperative and collaborative approach. IPOI covers a wide spectrum of significant issues through its seven pillars of Maritime Security, Maritime Ecology, Maritime Resources, Capacity Building and Resource Sharing, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation and Trade Connectivity and Maritime Transport. Many nations including Australia, UK and Japan have come forward to join hands in the initiative.

India would need to build a favorable maritime environment and enhance net maritime security all along the Indo Pacific region in cooperation with Maritime forces from friendly nations. In this regard, Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard have been regularly exercising with maritime forces of other nations to enhance inter-operability and confidence building through exercises such as Malabar, Varuna, Konkan, JIMEX, ‘Sahyog-Kaijin’ and other bilateral and multilateral exercises. India has also been leveraging international cooperation in maritime arena by participating and conducting bilateral and multilateral dialogues and symposiums.

India’s vision in the years ahead in the maritime sector was further enunciated by PM Narendra Modi in his address at the inauguration of Maritime India Summit on 02 March 2021, where he said that India is very serious about growing in the maritime sector and emerging as a leading Blue Economy of the world. Focus areas include upgrading of current infrastructure and creation of next-generation infrastructure to improve efficiency. Work is also happening to boost connectivity by integrating ports with Coastal Economic Zones, Port-based Smart Cities and Industrial Parks.

All this is expected to anchor industrial investments and promote global manufacturing activity near ports. Maritime India Vision 2030 has been launched which outlines the priorities of the Government. It includes enhancing maritime safety, search and rescue capabilities, security and marine environment protection.

Use of renewable sources of energy in the maritime sectorthrough solar and wind-based power systems is expected to increase usage of renewable energy to more than 60% of total energy by 2030 across Indian ports.

Apart from upgrading the complete port infrastructure and support systems, India is also developing mega ports with world-class infrastructure at Vadhavan, Paradip and Deendayal Port in Kandla and operationalising 23 domestic waterways, which would make transportation more environment friendly. All this is planned for completion by 2030.

Plans are also underway for an Eastern Waterways Connectivity Transport Grid, for regional connectivity with Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar to enhance regional trade and cooperation. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is focusing on improving maritime shipping and navigation, education and training for the mercantile marine, ship-building and ship-repair industry, ship-breaking, fishing vessels industry and the entire floating craft industry.

Conclusions

National Maritime Day is an apt occasion to remind ourselves that, India is a maritime nation with its prosperity and development intrinsically linked to the seas. So long as India used the oceans effectively, it was a land of prosperity and enormous wealth. After neglect of the seas from the 14th century, there was a revival of maritime outlook post-independence, which is being pursued with renewed vigour in the 21st century.

Blessed with a strategic location in the Indo Pacific, where the world is focused in the 21st century, many nations with interests in the region are looking at India as a partner to safeguard their interests. That India has taken up the challenge is evident from initiatives such as SAGAR, IPOI, and other bilateral and multilateral agreements, exercises, dialogues and symposiums. Both her maritime forces, the Indian Navy and Coast Guard have always played a significant role in enhancing India’s connect and reach among other maritime nations and should continue to do so to further expand Indian presence and visibility across Indo-Pacific.

India’s future thoughts in the maritime sector was clearly enunciated by PM Narendra Modi at Maritime India Summit 2021, when he said that India is very serious about growing in the maritime sector and emerging as a leading Blue Economy of the world.

It is also worth recalling Sardar KM Panikkar who was very clear that, “The future of India will undoubtedly be decided on the sea.”