The Indian Ocean’s importance to South Asia lies in its role as the linchpin of global energy flows and strategic sea lanes over 80% of maritime oil trade crosses its chokepoints like Hormuz, Malacca, and Bab el‑Mandeb. Positioned at its heart with a 7,500 km coastline, India sees the ocean as central to its geopolitical identity under the SAGAR doctrine, aiming to act as a “net security provider.”

Meanwhile, China is expanding its footprint through its ‘String of Pearls’ strategy, deploying ports and surveillance infrastructure in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and East Africa raising strategic concerns in New Delhi. India counters by forging partnerships and enhancing capability in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Recent developments underscore this strategic shift: India is hosting its largest-ever naval exercises with African and IOR partners, strengthening ties across East Africa and Southeast Asia. It has also deployed submarines, destroyers, and frigates amplifying its maritime posture.

India also leads security initiatives like the Information Fusion Centre–IOR and participates actively in the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), building cooperative maritime governance across the region. Thus, the Indian Ocean region is increasingly the theatre of India–China strategic contestation, with South Asia’s smaller states caught in the middle. Nations like Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh now pivot between these powers, complicating India's influence goals.

Indian Ocean is not just water it’s the emerging geopolitical fulcrum of South Asia, where naval strength, diplomacy, and regional connectivity determine future stability and influence.