 "How maritime trade has become a tool of diplomacy and deterrence")
The intricate ties between maritime trade, geopolitics, and naval power are more pronounced than ever in the 21st century. Oceans, which once served as barriers, are now vital arteries of global commerce, linking nations economically and strategically. As the geopolitical landscape shifts, particularly in contested waters such as the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, the role of navies as guardians of trade and deterrents of conflict is being redefined.
This article explores the evolving interplay of maritime warfare, trade, and naval strategy, focusing on the strategic use of unmanned systems and cooperative frameworks to address asymmetric threats in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The Indian Ocean: A Geopolitical Nexus
The Indian Ocean is a pivotal geopolitical nexus, serving as a bridge between the East and the West and a vital conduit for global trade and energy flows. Covering 20 per cent of the Earth’s water surface, the Indian Ocean is a hub of geopolitical and economic activity Encompassing some of the world’s busiest sea lanes, it facilitates the transit of nearly half of the world’s container traffic, carrying 80 per cent of global oil trade and 40 per cent of global trade volume. This strategic expanse connects economically dynamic regions such as the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, making it a theatre of intense competition among major powers.
Key chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandeb, and the Malacca Strait amplify its significance, with nations vying for influence to secure trade routes and energy supplies. For India, whose southern coastline overlooks this critical maritime domain, the Indian Ocean represents both an opportunity and a challenge, demanding a proactive maritime strategy to safeguard its interests and counter external influences.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsGeopolitical rivalries have increasingly shaped the Indian Ocean’s strategic landscape. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has led to the development of strategic ports and bases in the region, creating a “String of Pearls” that underscores its growing maritime assertiveness. India, traditionally a dominant naval force in the region, seeks to preserve freedom of navigation and counterbalance China’s rise. Simultaneously, regional players like Japan, and Australia are bolstering their maritime presence and forging alliances, such as the Quad, to ensure a free, open, and rules-based order.
However, the region also faces asymmetrical threats, including piracy, terrorism, and illegal fishing, which necessitate cooperative security mechanisms. The Indian Ocean, thus, remains a dynamic arena where economic aspirations, military strategies, and diplomatic manoeuvres converge, shaping the contours of global geopolitics. To summarise, the region is fraught with challenges:
(a) Geopolitical Competition: The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is extending its reach, building a stronghold in the Indian Ocean with facilities like Djibouti and Hambantota.
(b) Asymmetric Threats: Piracy, smuggling, and the potential for hybrid warfare tactics target vulnerable trade routes.
(c) Economic Chokepoints: Straits such as Malacca, Hormuz, and Bab el-Mandeb are critical yet fragile links in global supply chains.
Navies as Custodians of Commerce
The role of navies extends beyond defence into realms of economic stability and diplomacy. Alfred Thayer Mahan’s assertion, “Whoever controls the sea controls the world,” resonates in modern maritime strategy. Navies have long been the silent custodians of global commerce, ensuring the safe passage of goods and energy that power the world’s economies. Across the vast expanse of oceans, they provide a protective shield against piracy, terrorism, and maritime crime, which pose constant threats to sea lanes of communication. These blue-water forces act as sentinels, safeguarding chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz and the Malacca Strait, where disruption could cripple international trade. With over 90 per cent of the world’s trade carried by sea, navies play a crucial role in maintaining the lifeblood of global commerce, facilitating economic interdependence and prosperity among nations.
In an era of rising geopolitical tensions and asymmetric threats, navies have evolved beyond their traditional warfighting role to become versatile instruments of economic stability and diplomatic influence. Their presence ensures not only deterrence but also the swift response to natural disasters, humanitarian crises, and illegal activities that could disrupt maritime trade. Modern navies, equipped with advanced technologies and guided by collaborative frameworks like the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) or Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), embody a commitment to preserving the maritime commons. In doing so, they reaffirm their timeless duty as guardians of commerce, fostering an environment where trade thrives and nations flourish. However, traditional methods of securing sea power must now adapt to an age defined by autonomous technologies and complex geopolitical rivalries.
The Promise and Challenges of Unmanned Systems
The integration of unmanned systems into naval operations holds immense promise, revolutionising the way navies secure maritime trade and execute their broader roles as custodians of commerce. Autonomous vessels, underwater drones, and aerial systems bring unparalleled surveillance capabilities, enabling continuous monitoring of vast oceanic regions, including critical chokepoints and shipping lanes. These technologies enhance situational awareness and response times, making them invaluable in countering piracy, smuggling, and other asymmetrical threats. Moreover, unmanned systems reduce the risk to personnel, allowing navies to operate effectively in hostile or hazardous environments while minimising human casualties.
However, the adoption of unmanned systems comes with its own set of challenges. Technological limitations, such as communication latency, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and the need for robust AI-driven autonomy, must be addressed to realise their full potential. Operational integration with traditional naval assets requires new strategies, doctrines, and interoperability frameworks. Additionally, ethical and legal concerns surrounding the deployment of autonomous systems, particularly in contested waters, present complex dilemmas for naval leadership. Despite these challenges, the promise of unmanned systems lies in their ability to complement traditional naval forces, empowering navies to meet evolving maritime threats while continuing their mission as guardians of commerce in an increasingly contested maritime domain.
The Strategic Counter: India’s Naval Vision
India’s naval vision has strategically evolved to address the dual imperatives of safeguarding commerce and countering emerging threats in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Recognising its geographic centrality in the region, India’s Navy has embraced a doctrine of maritime security that emphasises presence, deterrence, and cooperation. Initiatives such as Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) underscore India’s commitment to fostering stability and shared prosperity in its maritime neighbourhood. By enhancing its blue-water capabilities, including a focus on unmanned systems, India aims to project power across the IOR, securing critical sea lanes and deterring adversarial activities that threaten the seamless flow of global trade.
The growth of unmanned systems is a critical pillar of India’s strategy to dominate the IOR. Leveraging indigenous innovation through initiatives like Make in India and fostering partnerships with private industry and startups, the Indian Navy is rapidly integrating advanced autonomous technologies into its arsenal. Unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), underwater drones, and aerial systems are being deployed for persistent surveillance of vast maritime areas, anti-submarine warfare, and mine countermeasures. Platforms like the indigenous USV and AI-enabled maritime reconnaissance drones enhance operational efficiency, reduce human risk, and provide real-time intelligence for better decision-making. These systems act as force multipliers, allowing the Navy to maintain a continuous presence in critical chokepoints and counter asymmetric threats effectively.
India’s naval vision also prioritises strategic partnerships and multilateral frameworks to strengthen its maritime influence and leverage unmanned systems collaboratively. Joint exercises with partners such as the United States, Japan, Australia, and France increasingly involve autonomous platforms, enhancing interoperability and demonstrating their utility in securing shared objectives. Through initiatives like the Quad and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), India not only strengthens its regional partnerships but also fosters the co-development of next-generation technologies for maritime security.
This fusion of unmanned systems and traditional naval strength positions India as a dominant maritime power in the IOR, capable of addressing both conventional and unconventional challenges in an evolving geopolitical landscape. A former Indian Navy Chief, aptly stated, “A strong navy is not just a war-fighting force but a guarantor of peace in the maritime domain.” This vision underpins India’s strategy in a volatile maritime environment.
Conclusion: A New Maritime Order
Trade, once a symbol of peaceful exchange and shared prosperity, is increasingly wielded as an instrument of power in the geopolitical arena, blurring the lines between commerce and conflict. In the maritime domain, where over 90 per cent of global trade flows, control over critical sea lanes and chokepoints has become synonymous with strategic dominance. Nations recognise that the ability to secure or disrupt trade routes can shape economic fortunes and influence geopolitical outcomes. This realization has transformed trade into an article of war, where navies, equipped with both traditional and cutting-edge unmanned systems, play a decisive role in defending economic lifelines while projecting influence.
The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) exemplifies this duality, serving as a theater where the competition for resources and influence meets the promise of collaborative security. The rise of unmanned systems, from autonomous surveillance drones to robotic underwater vehicles, is reshaping how navies address threats and enforce maritime order. These technologies, combined with cooperative frameworks like the Quad and IONS, empower nations to counter asymmetric challenges such as piracy, smuggling, and state-sponsored disruptions. By seamlessly integrating advanced systems with traditional assets, navies are not only safeguarding commerce but also ensuring that the balance of power remains equitable in a region critical to global stability.
In this era of contested waters and strategic competition, the essence of maritime trade as a tool of diplomacy and deterrence is clear. Navies are no longer just the custodians of commerce; they are architects of a maritime order that underpins global peace and prosperity. The convergence of innovation, strategy, and international collaboration offers a blueprint for navigating these complex waters. As the great naval theorist Sir Julian Corbett observed, “The object of naval warfare is to secure command of the sea.” In the IOR, achieving this command increasingly requires a blend of innovation, cooperation, and strategic foresight.
As the Indian Ocean grows in strategic importance, India’s vision of a secure, inclusive, and technologically empowered maritime domain could serve as a model for balancing economic ambition with strategic responsibility, ensuring that trade continues to be a bridge of cooperation rather than a battleground of conflict.
Commander Rahul Verma (Retd) is an Emerging Technology and Prioritisation Scout for a leading Indian multinational corporation, focusing on advancing force modernisation through innovative technological applications and operational concepts. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views.
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