Indian Council of World Affairs

Abstract 

India’s engagement with various forums in the region, highlight the maritime-land connect of the Indo-Pacific. Its initiatives of multi-modal corridors such as IMTT, IMEC, INSTC reflect the continental dimension of its Indo-Pacific vision. 

The importance of the Indo-Pacific region in contemporary great-power politics has surged in the past few years in both geo-economic and geo-strategic terms. The Indo-Pacific is viewed predominantly as a maritime space, with the region’s waterways being central to global commerce, carrying an estimated 65 per cent of world trade and contributing 60 per cent of global GDP. Geopolitically, the region is home to three top economies, China, India and Japan, besides the ASEAN. Along with the increasing economic heft, the region is witnessing a rise in defence spending and enhanced engagement in international affairs. 

While the maritime domain has been the central focus of most Indo-Pacific strategies, there is a continental dimension to the Indo-Pacific engagements. This is perhaps most visible in India’s vision of a free, open and inclusive region, which encompasses the region from the “east coast of Africa to the western shores of the Americas.”[i] The continental developments within the Indo-Pacific region have a direct bearing on the region, which in turn is of important for India’s strategic and economic interests. For India, the Indo-Pacific is an interconnected space where it shares common perspectives on various issues with partner nations. This paper highlights India’s continental approach in the Indo-Pacific region and the various frameworks through which it is engaging with the countries of the region. 

The Continental Connect in India’s Indo- Pacific Strategy 

The Indian Ocean region, within the broader construct of the Indo-Pacific region, is pivotal to India’s growth. There is considerable churn in global affaris and this is visible at the two ends of the Indian Ocean, “In the Middle East, there is a serious conflict underway with the potential for further escalation and complication. At the same time, longstanding issues are being revisited, sometimes with a radically different approach. …. There are questions which arise from our ability and willingness to respond, as indeed from the partnerships relevant to that task. At the other end, the Indo-Pacific has been witnessing deeper tensions and sharper contestations. … Stronger assertions of interests is one issue; concern about unilateral changes to the status quo another.”[ii]

From India’s perspective, there are both strategic and economic imperatives that are pushing for increased engagement with its Indian Ocean partners. Strategically, there are imperative for countries, especially India, to build a robust continental element in their Indo-Pacific strategy. The historical differences and rifts between States along with the proliferation of armed non-state actors have regional security implications, including increased terrorist activities, illegal trade in arms, drugs and human trafficking and money laundering, along with the need to protect the proposed projects envisioned for the region. 

Energy security also requires a collaboration of maritime and continental strategies for the Indo-Pacific. As a consequence of the Russia–Ukraine and Hamas–Israel confrontations, alternative energy routes have become critical for countries across the world. Intercontinental energy and transit networks, which facilitate the movement of resources and products, have become a priority for any strategy focused on maintaining secure and stable supplies. This has led to increased focus on pipelines and multimodal transport corridors that crisscross Eurasia and connect to Asia. 

In highlighting the importance of the Indian Ocean in the Indo-Pacific region, External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar stated, “The Indian Ocean is not only a significant body of water but also a crucial economic and strategic corridor, playing a key role in the development and prosperity of the nations around and beyond it.”[iii] It is not just a major conduit of international trade but the littorals here are densely populated and the ocean is also valuable source of fishing and mineral wealth. It would be a mistake to assume that developments and prosperity in the Ocean is limited to the maritime front and do not flow inland. Keeping this in mind, India shares mutual interests with nations in both the eastern and western Indian Ocean region. 

In the eastern Indian Ocean, the land component of India’s Indo-Pacific outlook collaborates with the Act East Policy, with both laying emphasis on building a sustainable and prosperous region through multilateral/mini-lateral engagements. Among the various projects, the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway (IMTT) has the potential of creating a completely new axis of economic activity in Asia. As pointed by External Affairs Minister Dr. Jaishankar, “The IMTT project has had its fair share of challenges but (India is) determined to bring it to an early conclusion. Already, countries to the East of Myanmar, in-fact countries to the east of Thailand have expressed interest in getting connected to it. Such a lateral connectivity can radically expand the interface between South-East Asia and South Asia, to the mutual benefit of both.”[iv] The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), a regional organisation that is economic cooperation bordering the Bay of Bengal, is being explored by India to further build the land-maritime connect. A stronger partnership between ASEAN and BIMSTEC could create a broader Indo-Pacific framework that connects continental and maritime Asia. ASEAN’s institutional experience, combined with BIMSTEC’s geostrategic position in the Bay of Bengal, could foster deeper economic integration, connectivity, and security cooperation.[v] And while China has been critical of the Indo-Pacific concept and has refrained from using it, India’s vision includes working with all nations. India is open to improving its relations with China, to build a prosperous and stable region that is of mutual benefit to all. 

India’s focus in the western Indian Ocean is on expanding connectivity between Asia and the continent of Africa, increasing interconnectedness with the Middle East and the European landmass, including the Central Asian nations and Russia, a continental nation. 

Collaborative connectivity initiatives have been India’s approach to strengthening its own capabilities while forging partnerships for stability in the region. The India-Israel-UAE-US (I2U2) partnership and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), along with the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), aim to build a cooperation framework to address common challenges and enhance trade and connectivity through the Indian Ocean to Eurasia. The I2U2 is particularly focused on joint investments and new initiatives in water, energy, transportation, space, health, food security and technology. The other two connectivity corridors mentioned aim to revolutionise global trade and infrastructure. Together the corridors mentioned, will strengthen economic ties and create new opportunities for global supply chain diversification, reducing reliance on traditional trade routes to become a future-ready economic corridor based on sustainable and secure trade practices. 

India is also making efforts to partner with both African nations and the African Union on building critical links between India and the continent of Africa. Working through the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), India is addressing the questions asked by its partner nations on India’s Indo-Pacific vision and outlook. It wants to partner in “…rebuilding connectivity in the region, after decades of colonial – era disruption. To make this a truly shared endeavour, it is vital to ensure that connectivity initiatives are consultative and transparent, not unilateral and opaque.”[vi] India working towards this goal through collaborative engagements with member states of both organisations, across sectors to achieve sustainable economic growth and development. 

In the context of the Indo-Pacific, the Quad has emerged as the most prominent platform to address challenges and opportunities here. India as a part of the Quad, is engaged in bridging the land-maritime connection through the grouping’s various initiatives that support practical cooperation in areas, such as critical and emerging technologies including green energy, cyber-security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, health security, climate change, counterterrorism, infrastructure and connectivity, and addressing the debt crisis through sustainable, transparent and fair lending and financing practices.[vii] India believes that the role of Quad to deliver publics goods can be significant as it builds on its cooperative endeavours. 

Conclusion 

It is accepted that the Indo-Pacific is, and will remain primarily, a maritime domain. Nonetheless, countries may also include inter-regional connectivity via both land and sea to balance the maritime focus of their strategies. Nations can continue their regional engagements with countries in Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia bilaterally. However, their engagements could also be used to develop and strengthen multilateral and/or mini-lateral initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region. This would allow nations to unite to collaborate to achieve common objectives, pool resources and address mutual challenges effectively. The advantage would be better market integration and expanded trade and supply chain networks, which could foster greater interregional cooperation from a continental and maritime standpoint and provide regional stability. India’s engagement with various forums in the region, highlight the maritime-land connect of the Indo-Pacific. Its initiatives of multi-modal corridors such as IMTT, IMEC, INSTC reflect the continental dimension of its Indo-Pacific vision.

***** 

*Dr Stuti Banerjee is a Senior Research Fellow with ICWA.
Disclaimer: The views expressed are personal.

Endnotes

[i] Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, “Prime Minister’s Keynote Address at Shangri La Dialogue (June 01, 2018),” https://www.mea.gov.in/Speeches-Statements.htm?dtl/29943/Prime+Ministers+Keynote+Address+at+Shangri+La+Dialogue+June+01+2018, Accessed on May 15, 2025.

[ii] Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, “Keynote Address by EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar at Indian Ocean Conference 2025 : Voyage to New Horizons of Maritime Partnership (February 16, 2025),” https://www.mea.gov.in/Speeches-Statements.htm?dtl/39076/Keynote_Address_by_EAM_Dr_S_Jaishankar_at_Indian_Ocean_Conference_2025__Voyage_to_New_Horizons_of_Maritime_Partnership_February_16_2025, Accessed on 20 May 2025

[iii] Ministry Of External Affairs, Government of India, “Remarks by EAM, Dr. S. Jaishankar at the Press Conference of the 23rd IORA Council of Ministers Meeting,” https://www.mea.gov.in/Speeches-Statements.htm?dtl/37183/Remarks_by_EAM_Dr_S_Jaishankar_at_the_Press_Conference_of_the_23rd_IORA_Council_of_Ministers_Meeting, Accessed on 15 May 2025.

[iv] Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, “Address by External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar at the Chulalongkorn University on ''India’s Vision of the Indo-Pacific, 18 August 2022'', https://www.mea.gov.in/Speeches-Statements.htm?dtl/35641/ ,Accessed on 19 May 2025.

[v] Harsh Pant, “Blue Horizons, Green Growth: ASEAN and BIMSTEC for a Prosperous Indo-Pacific 01 April 2025,” https://www.orfonline.org/research/blue-horizons-green-growth-asean-and-bimstec-for-a-prosperous-indo-pacific, Accessed on 20 May 2025

[vi] Op.Cit 2, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India

[vii] Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, “Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Joint Statement,” https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/38044/Quad+Foreign+Ministers+Meeting+Joint+Statement, Accessed on May 15, 2025.