In an era of strategic competition, India’s geostrategic positioning and access to two of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints—the Malacca and Hormuz Straits—grant it significant leverage. Together, these straits see over 60% of the world’s oil flow and a third of global trade, underscoring their strategic importance for energy security and economic continuity. This article delves into how these chokepoints have evolved from avenues of trade to arenas of strategic influence, further cementing India’s status as a security provider in the Indo-Pacific.

The heightened focus on the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and Indo-Pacific is driven by multiple factors, including China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a recalibrating U.S. presence in the region, and the growing importance of maintaining secure, unimpeded global trade. India’s maritime strategy has evolved to meet these shifting dynamics, moving beyond a coastal defence approach to a sophisticated, multi-layered strategy to protect its interests and those of its allies.

Historical and Strategic Context: India’s Maritime Evolution

India’s maritime ambitions have deep roots, with its naval history tracing back to ancient trade routes that once flourished across the Indian Ocean. However, India’s naval posture was initially limited post-independence, focusing on littoral defence. Only in the last few decades, spurred by economic liberalisation, regional competition, and strategic imperatives, India began asserting its presence across the IOR.

India’s gradual shift toward a blue-water navy capable of operating in open oceans aligns with Alfred Mahan’s concept of “sea power” as a defining force for national strength. Key elements reshaping India’s strategy include:

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): China’s investments in ports across South Asia, such as Gwadar and Hambantota, are components of a “String of Pearls” strategy, creating a network of logistical hubs and potential military outposts that could encircle India.
U.S.-China Rivalry: As tensions increase, India’s alignment with democratic maritime powers like the U.S. has become essential. The convergence of Indo-Pacific interests now shapes India’s partnerships.
Energy and Economic Security: Since over 85% of India’s oil is imported via the Strait of Hormuz and key trade routes pass through the Malacca Strait, secure access to these chokepoints is fundamental to India’s economic and energy stability.

By securing and monitoring these chokepoints, India amplifies its influence, not just regionally but across the broader Indo-Pacific, underpinning its ambitions to be a net security provider.

The Role of the Indian Navy: Strategic Surveillance and Rapid Response

As the primary instrument of India’s maritime power, the Indian Navy plays a central role in safeguarding India’s strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific. Several key assets and strategies support India’s naval vigilance over the Malacca and Hormuz Straits:

Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC): The ANC is India’s first tri-service theatre command, enabling coordinated defence capabilities at a vantage point near the Malacca Strait. This location allows India to maintain a robust monitoring and rapid-response presence over a critical waterway that carries nearly half of the world’s maritime trade.
Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR): Established in 2018, IFC-IOR facilitates real-time information sharing on maritime traffic, enhancing situational awareness and coordination with regional partners. This collaboration supports surveillance and ensures quick mobilisation in case of suspicious or hostile activities.
Mission-Based Deployments (MBDs): India’s year-round mission-based deployments allow the Indian Navy to maintain continuous patrols and surveillance over critical chokepoints, ensuring freedom of navigation and deterring piracy, terrorism, and other regional threats. Notably, anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and patrols in the Straits of Malacca and Hormuz reinforce India’s ability to act as a first responder in crises.
Regional Exercises and Operational Engagements: India has participated in high-profile naval exercises such as Malabar (with Quad members) and bilateral exercises with ASEAN nations. These drills enhance operational readiness interoperability and allow for joint strategic planning and rapid response to emerging threats in the region.

By combining surveillance, intelligence sharing, and rapid deployment, the Indian Navy projects power across the Indo-Pacific, showcasing its ability to maintain stability and counter threats in these critical waterways.

Geopolitical Challenges and Regional Rivalries: Balancing China’s Influence

India’s strategic aspirations are increasingly impacted by the competition posed by China’s expanding influence across the Indian Ocean. The “String of Pearls” network of ports and bases, extending from Gwadar to Hambantota, raises the stakes, as China’s presence in these locations grants it proximity to vital Indian interests.

Key Aspects of India’s Response

India’s SAGAR Vision: Under the Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) policy, India has focused on fostering stability, economic connectivity, and security in the Indian Ocean. Through SAGAR, India has strengthened ties with ASEAN, Gulf nations, and littoral states, encouraging collaboration in maritime security, economic investment, and infrastructure development.
Counterbalancing through the Quad and Regional Alliances: India’s strategic engagements within the Quad (U.S., Japan, Australia, and India) and with ASEAN partners counterbalance China’s assertive posture. Joint exercises, increased port calls, and dialogues on Indo-Pacific security underscore India’s commitment to countering Chinese influence in these waterways.
Partnerships in Port Development and Military Access: India has enhanced its logistical and military presence by developing infrastructure in the Maldives, Mauritius, and Seychelles. These partnerships extend India’s operational reach and foster economic development in partner countries, strengthening India’s influence in response to Chinese port acquisitions.

These efforts signal India’s resolve to safeguard its sovereignty over the IOR, mitigate Chinese encirclement, and maintain a balance of power, favouring an open, rules-based order.

International Legal Frameworks: India’s Commitment to UNCLOS

India’s adherence to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) bolsters its image as a responsible maritime power. Part III of UNCLOS guarantees freedom of passage through international straits such as the Malacca and Hormuz, essential for global trade. India’s operations abide by these regulations, contrasting with China’s assertive activities in the South China Sea, where Beijing’s territorial claims have contested freedom of navigation.

By championing the principles of UNCLOS, India promotes a legal framework that upholds maritime stability and security. This commitment to international law enhances India’s legitimacy as a stabilising force in the region, reinforcing the importance of a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific.

Partnerships and Naval Diplomacy: Building Strategic Depth

India’s strategic partnerships extend beyond traditional alliances, encompassing extensive naval diplomacy and logistical support arrangements across the Indo-Pacific.

Key Partnerships and Exercises

Quad Exercises (Malabar): These exercises showcase the collective capabilities of Quad nations and enhance interoperability, ensuring that partner navies are operationally prepared for joint crisis response, freedom of navigation operations, and disaster relief efforts.
ASEAN and Gulf Collaboration: India’s bilateral exercises with ASEAN nations and increasing defence ties with Gulf states foster maritime interoperability and coordination. These alliances are pivotal as they help counterbalance regional threats, ensuring a cooperative security environment in the Indo-Pacific.
Dual-Use Facilities in Key Locations: India’s dual-use logistics facilities in Mauritius, Seychelles, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands extend the Indian Navy’s reach across the Indian Ocean. By combining military capabilities with developmental aid and infrastructure, India strengthens its influence over these critical chokepoints, ensuring a sustained presence.

These alliances support India’s ambition to be a net security provider, allowing it to extend influence across the Indo-Pacific and respond quickly to regional threats.

A Vision for Stability in the Indo-Pacific

The Malacca and Hormuz Straits are more than maritime corridors—they are strategic assets that shape India’s vision for a secure Indo-Pacific. By leveraging its naval strength, establishing partnerships, and adhering to international norms, India plays a decisive role in maintaining regional stability. As regional rivalries intensify, India’s resolve to safeguard these chokepoints aligns with its vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific, underscoring its responsibilities as a regional security provider.

With its evolving naval strategies, proactive diplomacy, and steadfast adherence to international law, India is well-positioned to lead as a regional net security provider. India’s commitment to securing these straits serves its national interests and fosters stability and resilience in the Indo-Pacific, ensuring the security and prosperity of all regional stakeholders.