India As A Net Security Provider In The Indian Ocean Region

The meeting of all the Foreign Ministers from South Asia (excluding Pakistan) on the occasion of the IOR meet in Mauritius has also turned the spotlight on India's crucial role in anchoring the economic rationale amid the supply chain constraints triggered by the West Asia crisis. 

The Indian Ocean Region is not an abstract but a crucial point where India has positioned itself as a net security provider.

India As A First Responder During Crises

Unlike the US or China, India has consistently acted as a "First Responder" in the Indian Ocean Region – be it during humanitarian crises or natural disasters. The extensive assistance provided by India during disaster relief operations in Sri Lanka, Madagascar, and Mozambique, or responding to oil spills off the coasts of Mauritius or Sri Lanka, India has stepped forward at the hour of need. 

Following Cyclone Ditwah last year, India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu, a major Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission, to aid Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the natural disaster, committing a relief package worth US$450 million.

India's commitments in other countries spanning the Indian Ocean Region, such as Mauritius and Seychelles, have also been similarly multi-pronged.

In Mauritius, in addition to major projects such as the Metro Express, India is currently working on water supply, a police academy, and a forensic laboratory, among others. In Seychelles, India has extended a special economic package. Prime Minister Narendra Modi may visit Seychelles this year to further expand the strategic and economic partnership.    

In Sri Lanka, India-assisted projects extend across housing, health, education, cultural centres, connectivity infrastructure, and livelihood enhancement. In the Maldives, major ongoing projects include the flagship Greater Male Connectivity Project, several road and water sanitation projects, and airport development. In Madagascar, India’s assistance in agriculture and energy is underlined by the supply of rice in very sizeable quantities.

As far as Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan in South Asia are concerned, or Tanzania and Mozambique in Africa, for that matter, Indian partnership encompasses many dimensions of the economy.

Many countries in the region face difficulties in monitoring their vast Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ). India has not only invested in dedicated training programmes, but has also provided support to their navy and coast guard. 

France-Africa Summit And Trilateral Cooperation

Besides India's economic commitments in these countries, a new chapter could also open with the India-France partnership in the Indian Ocean Region (France has been a major player for decades in this region). Prime Minister Modi has been invited to the France-Africa Summit in Kenya in May. Here lies the chance to push the India-France partnership in the Indian Ocean Region.

The France-Africa Summit, scheduled for May 11-12 in Nairobi, Kenya, aims to strengthen economic, technological, and strategic ties, a pivot towards a more balanced, action-oriented partnership. Hosted in an Anglophone country for the first time, the summit focuses on green industrialisation, digital innovation, and financial reform.

It is equally important for India to explore a third-country partnership with Russia in the Indian Ocean Region, given that Moscow is expanding its presence in Africa and the Indian Ocean Region. 

As Jaishankar had highlighted at the IOR meet in Port Louis, global trends are a reality that cannot be ignored.

(The writer is a commentator on geopolitics. Views expressed are personal.)