Maritime security threats in the Indian Ocean

24 Maio 2018, 10:00 • Shiv Kumar Singh

Maritime security threats in the Indian Ocean range from the traditional through to the non-traditional. The following might be identified from an Australian perspective:

•	the threat of major intra-state conflict in which Australia became involved leading to possible raids or air attacks against Australia;
•	terrorist attack against vulnerable points in the region, particularly offshore oil and gas installations and other mining infrastructure; and
•	Non-traditional security threats, including the smuggling of people, arms and drugs, illegal unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and maritime natural disasters.

Maritime terrorist attacks are a threat across the IOR due to the presence of extremist groups, including in neighbouring countries to Australia's north. The terrorist attack in Mumbai in November 2008 showed the risks of terrorist attack from the sea if coastal waters are not secure. Attacks on offshore facilities have occurred in the past. Three offshore Iraqi oil terminals were attacked in the Persian Gulf in 2003 by explosive-laden speedboats.

Terrorists contemplating a terrorist attack against Australia would recognise that the offshore oil and gas facilities in the northwest of Australia are a significant national vulnerability that are not protected as well as they should be. Arrangements to protect these facilities, port terminals and pipelines are major considerations for our national security planning. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) and other security forces should be in a position to respond at short notice to a terrorist threat to offshore and coastal infrastructure. However, due to the location of our existing defence bases, the ADF is not in this position at present.

While traditional security risks are evident in the IOR with the tensions and conflict in the Middle East and Indian sub-continent, the region also faces extensive non-traditional security threats. These include climate change and possible rising sea levels, transnational crimes (particularly piracy, drug and arms trafficking, and people smuggling), food shortages, disease and famine, IUU fishing, and maritime natural hazards, such as tsunamis, cyclones and floods. All of these threats have a significant maritime dimension and pose major risks in the northwest of Australia in particular. Through 2009 and 2010, there has been a marked increase in the numbers of asylum seekers trying to enter Australia by sea, mostly across the Timor Sea and the northwest Indian Ocean.
To summarise, the following are some policy initiatives that Australia might take to meet growing maritime security challenges in the Indian Ocean.

•	Australia should make a greater effort to ensure that cooperative fisheries management arrangements in the Indian Ocean are effective.
•	Assistance in building local capacity for fisheries management, and EEZ management more generally should be an important component of Australia's regional aid programmes.
•	Australia should take action to promote cooperative marine scientific research in the IOR and to enhance the ability of the region to predict and mitigate the impact of maritime natural disasters.
•	Most importantly, the ADF should plan to markedly increase its presence along the west coast of Australia between Perth and Darwin.

These are just some of the initiatives that Australia might take to enhance maritime security and oceans management in the IOR, and to engage constructively in the region. They exploit the common interest of Indian Ocean coastal and island states in the maritime environment, its resources and security. While there is growing concern for the future stability of the region, the maritime domain offers the potential for important ‘building blocks’ for the establishment of the regional cooperation and dialogue that would contribute to maritime security in the region.