The Indian Ocean Region : An Arena of Opportunities, Conflict, Competition and Cooperation

By : Achal K. Malhotra

Page No: 1-14

Abstract
The Indian Ocean is world’s third largest Ocean; the two others being the Pacific and Atlantic. The real significance of the Indian Ocean region lies not in its span but in its strategic location, geo-political and geo-economic importance, which, in turn, has made it an arena for global competition on the one hand and a platform for regional and international cooperation on the other. In this paper, it is proposed to discuss the broad features of the Ocean, highlight the factors which make the region so important that the major global players are vying for influence and finally discuss critically the fora which have been created to foster close cooperation for ensuring maritime security and sustainable exploitation of the vast resources of the Indian Ocean for contemporary and future needs.
 

Author
Ambassador Achal K. Malhotra is a seasoned diplomat and had been Ambassador of India to Armenia and Georgia. Besides having many articles on international affairs to his credit, he is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the “Indian Foreign Affairs Journal”. He also frequently participates in debates/ panel discussions on international issues in various leading national TV channels in India
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/JIOS.2025.34.01.1