Indian Ocean: the role of India in Present time

10 Maio 2018, 10:00 • Shiv Kumar Singh

Summary of the class-- Indian Ocean the New Heartland
The Heartland (Halford J. Mackinder, 1904).

The Rimland

            (Nichoals J. Spykman, 1942). The importance of areas adjoining the heartland.

·        In particular, Rimland consists of Indian Ocean and the littoral countries.

·        The importance of controlling the World Island exapansion
The Reality
Indian Ocean region had become the strategic heartland of the 21st century, dislodging Europe and North East Asia, which adorned this position in the 20th century. - Donald L. Berlin, 2006.

·        Whoever controls the Indian Ocean dominates Asia. This ocean is the key to the seven seas in the twenty-first century; the destiny of the world will be decided in these waters. - Alfred T. Mahan, 1912.
Indian Ocean region would play a key role in evolving the strategic rivalries of the 21st century, because of several interrelated factors.

·        While the growing importance of oil, energy and other vital resources and their effective transportation between two of the regions fastest growing economies i.e. China and India.
Why Indian Ocean?

·        Connectivity / Energy Security / Strategic Hegemony / Global Supremacy

·        The String of Pearls

·        One Belt One Road

·        Building a network of bases and ports across the region - from Vanuatu in the outer edges of the Indian Ocean to Djibouti in the Horn of Africa.

The Indian Position
“With a coastline of 7500 km and 1200 island territories,  India is and always has been a maritime nation.

 Our central location in the IOR (Indian Ocean Region) has connected us with other cultures, shaped our maritime trade routes and influenced India’s strategic thought (Gadkari, Singapore, 2017).”