Since independence, India has progressive approached towards Indian Ocean region. After 1990 US emerge as an uncontended Maritime power because of Soviet Navy withdrawal. In recent years the Indian Ocean has become arena of strategic competition among regional as well as extra regional powers. China, India and Japan’s naval potential has grown exponentially.

Though, there are many emerging powers in Indian Ocean region India still is a natural leader in the region because of the following reasons:

• Strategic position of India in the heart of Indian Ocean.
• Vast coastline around 7500 km in Indian Ocean.
• Two Island groups – Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep extend India’s reach to Indian Ocean.
• It is the largest economy among littoral States of this region.
• India maintains good relationship with most of the littoral state in Indian Ocean.
• India was successfully able to get Maldives and Seychelles into its sphere of influence. Example India convinced Seychelles for Indian Naval base in Asuncion Island.
• Recently India has started many projects some of them are following: –
• Blue economy – India is operating with Mauritius, Maldives, Bangladesh Seychelles and Sri Lanka to promote blue economy in the region.
• Sagar – it is India’s most ambitious project which deals with security as well as growth of this region.
• IORA (Indian ocean regional Association) – for the first time IORA Action Plan 2017 21 has been accepted

Challenges

• In recent time China has been emerging as a biggest threat because of its debt trap policy China is working on Humbantota port of Sri Lanka. China is also negotiating with mamma to get stronger in Indian ocean region.
• String of pearls which China is making do circumscribe India is another big challenge for India
• Erratic behaviour of allies like USA.
• Piracy in Indian Ocean.

 Way forward

India should promote rule-based order in the region and follow the policy of reconciliation with China.

Conclusion

India should respect this status given by its Peer Nations of the region and should work for progress of region as a whole in faster pace.