Indian Ocean Diplomacy

Indian Ocean Region (IOR)

Background

• 3rd largest ocean
• encompasses the old world
• emerging economies+resource rich region

Importance stems from below facts

• major trade routes pass through - encompasses major civilizations and economies who are having trade relations with each other since olden times
• connects china and other emerging economies to the oil sources of Arab
• Half of world's container traffic
• 70% of world's oil trade
• For long, the ocean is under foreign influence; After Ashoka and Chola, Britishers and then Americans. Now China has set her sight.
• US policy of countering Chinese influence; Asia Pivot
• Chinese aim of controlling and securing its trade routes - 40% of its oil and gas passes thru
• India's immediate neighborhood (String of pearls theory)
• Piracy attacks; US is now less interested in policing the ocean; US does not now mind leaving the policing to India. India navy has successfully tacked the pirates
• >95% of India's trade (by volume) touches Indian ocean
• resource base : minerals, energy,marine resources etc.
• source of livelihood for coastal populace

All these have prompted India to take steps to make Indian Ocean as India's Ocean

Some earlier initiatives

• After British pulled out in 1970s, India decided to build a 200-ship navy and also tried to engage the littoral countries. failed coz could not afford and other countries did not oblige.
• US build military base in Diego Garcia

Indian Ocean Rim - Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)

• Formed in 1997
• A grouping of 20 countries of IOR for
• economic and trade coopeartion
• coordinated stand on global issues (that affect the region in particular)
• security and anti-piracy cooperation
• cooperation in SnT, R&D etc.
• Cultural exchanges etc.
• have priority arear for cooperation in 
• Trade
• Piracy
• Disaster
• SnT
• Tourism/cultural
• Fisheries

Recent developments

India has now turned its attention towards this region. The immediate and extended neighborhood is the current foreign policy focus for India.
India looks to become 'net security provider' in IOR and in the process attempts to wrest back some of the influence that China has made in IOR

On the focus on Indian Ocean region one Ministry official commented that, “If you don’t do it, someone would be there to do it. We are just making up for the lost time."

So, Indian response now -

• island countries into security and political sphere as island countries
• cover vast maritime territories
• 
  

Seychelles

Mar 2015 Modi visit

signed 4 agreement in areas of  Hydrology renewable energy Infrastructure development hydrographic survey another agreement on infrastructure development in the Assumption island Cooperation first of the eight Coastal Surveillance Radar Systems (CSRS) being set up by India. India is helping Indian Ocean littorals as part of capacity and capability enhancement in strengthening their maritime domain awareness capabilities. India will give a second Dornier maritime patrol aircraft to Seychelles  free visa-on-arrival for three months for its citizen

Key Connections

Key Issues

• China has in the past considered Seychelles as a potential resupply port for navy ships taking part in anti-piracy operations off Africa.

Mauritius

Mar 2015 Modi visit

signed 5 agreement in areas of  developing ocean economy(or Blue economy) security cooperation India will build transport infrastructure (sea and air links) for the Agalega Islands. Cooperation India offered $500 million concessional line of credit for key infrastructure projects CEPA is being negotiated (PTA was signed in 2006) commissioning of a 1,300-tonne, Indian-built (#MakeInIndia) coastal patrol vessel, MCGS Barracuda expertise and funding to help Mauritius move from its traditional economy of sugarcane crops and tourism

Key Connections

• more than 68% of inhabitants are of Indian origin
• Ganga talao - hindu shrine
• Indira Gandhi popularly addressed Mauritius as 'Chhota Bharat'
• Mauritius celebrates its National Day on March 12 as a mark of respect to Mahatma Gandhi, who began his Dandi march on this day
• India built the first cyber city — and in building up Mauritius’s capacities as a financial services hub, as well as now a petroleum hub
• India also helping Mauritius in the area of Healthcare services, infra and SnT among others

Key Issues

• revision of Double Taxation Avoidance Treaty

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-can-operate-in-south-china-sea-says-us-admiral/article6969966.ece

http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/node/1724

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/in-seychelles-modi-boosts-security-cooperation/article6982284.ece
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-and-mauritius-announce-security-cooperation-pact/article6983499.ece
http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/kishan-s-rana-a-new-beginning-in-the-indian-ocean-115030700660_1.html

Indian Ocean Maritime security group

• Current members : India, SL, Maldives
• Seychelles and Mauritius are expected to join

Functions

• Sharing information
• Anti-piracy
• training
• search and rescue
• oil-spills

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/mr-modis-ocean-view/article7000182.ece
http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/budgetary-constraints-115031601228_1.html

http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-silk-road-india-mausam-spice-route/article7073804.ece
http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/node/1750

Reference

1. IOR-ARC from Mrunal