Realignment of Power Patterns in Indian Ocean: Role of Regional and Global Actors

Purpose: Purpose of study is to analyze the impact of changing strategic patterns and priorities of various regional and international actors on the Indian Ocean Region. Geo-political contestation for hegemony among these actors i.e. US, India, Japan, Australia, China and Pakistan is examined. Measures and counter-measures taken by the said states too are evaluated. Design/Methodology/Approach: Analytical study based on qualitative descriptive analysis is formulated in inductive way. Findings: Indian Ocean has been evolving to be the center-stage of Global power politics. US, UK, Australia, Japan and India are pursuing the goal of containment of China. China too has initiated economic partnerships with various states of the Indian Ocean Region i.e. Pakistan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. Implications/Originality/Value: Keeping in view the pace at which international and other concerned actors are inclined towards alliances formulation and militarization of the Indian Ocean Region, naval arms to acquire naval second strike capability is anticipated to be initiated in the near future, Indian ambitions to achieve the naval based second strike capability can be analyzed with the same lens.