Tuesday, April 1, 2014

With Eye on China, India Expands Naval Influence in Indian Ocean

World Politics Review published on 31 March 2014 an analysis titled "With Eye on China, India Moves to Expand Indian Ocean Maritime Influence" by Saurav Jha, a researcher on global energy issues and clean energy development in Asia.

He reported that India has invited Mauritius and the Seychelles to join a trilateral maritime security cooperation arrangement that now includes India, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives known as the IO-3.  Should Mauritius and the Seychelles join, it would become the IO-5.  This is an effort by India to take the lead in an Indian Ocean maritime security network as China increases its naval activity in the region, including reports of the first-ever patrol in the eastern Indian Ocean of PLAN Shang-class nuclear attack submarines.