Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative - an opportunity to create new institutions for maritime governance

ABSTRACT The idea of an Indo-Pacific region as a ‘supra region’ encompassing two ocean bodies is nascent. The region comprises multiple diverse and disparate sub-regions and thus lacks geopolitical coherence and a common framework. However, maritime connectivity is a common thread that binds the region and the proposal for an Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative by India seeks to improve regional maritime governance by focusing on the common regional challenges. This article examines how this could be done by leveraging extant institutions.