Indian Ocean Region Historic Strategic Significance
In 1963, Professor Saul Cohen stated,
“There are, strictly speaking, only two geostrategic regions today,
1) The Trade-Dependent Maritime World
2) The Eurasian Continental World
Projecting our views into future, we anticipated eventual emergence of a third geostrategic region– Indian Ocean realm.”
Once known as a “British Lake”, Indian Ocean's now an emergent global intersection for geostrategic, economic, natural resource and environmental issues. However, being an area of conflict – internal/localized and regional conflicts of international significance, altogether 42% of world conflicts can be associated with Indian Ocean countries according to Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research.
Due to strategic significance of 7 key choke-points; Mozambique Channel, Bab el Mandeb, Suez Canal, Hormuz Strait, Malacca Strait, Sunda Strait, and Lombok Strait, for global trade and energy flow, several extra-regional states maintain their naval presence in Indian Ocean. 32.2 million of barrels of crude oil and petroleum are transported per day through Straits of Hormuz and Malacca—more than 50% of the world’s maritime oil trade. Moreover, IOR, itself is considered to be rich with energy reserves as it produces nearly 40% of the world’s offshore petroleum. Coastal beach sands and offshore waters host heavy mineral deposits; also, fisheries are vital for exports and domestic consumption. On the land, Indian Ocean is bounded and influenced by 38 states.
In the Cold War era, newly independent Indian Ocean states of Asia and Africa became the center of gravity igniting competition among the major global powers. This has dissipated the regional security balance in the post-Cold War period.
Consequently, rivalry, competition and turmoil after the Cold War followed by 9/11 and the War on Terror – a few factors among many, have not only contributed towards regional instability, maritime security environment has also undergone transformation. Being a significant commercial artery and a global security realm, Indian Ocean Region is a center of attraction for global and regional players. The evolving global dynamics in the maritime domain along with the initiatives, such as, 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, collaborative security, maritime policy and governance are the major challenges which require cooperation of regional and extra-regional states.
Hence, it necessitates regional and extra-regional players to focus issues concerning Indian Ocean Region within a complex geopolitical framework where the interests and objectives of foreign powers and local actors inextricably intermingle.
Bibliography
1. Cohen, S. B. (1963). Geography and politics in a world divided.
2. media.africaportal.org/documents/Pape
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