India's 'Larger Role' as Net Security Provider in Indian Ocean Hailed
IOC official Raj Mahabeer hails India's role in suppressing piracy and enhancing maritime security during the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue.
India is playing a pivotal and "bit larger role" across the Indian Ocean, acting as a cornerstone for maritime security and complementing the efforts of regional nations. This assessment was shared by Raj Mahabeer, the Officer-in-Charge of the General Secretariat of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), Mauritius, while speaking on the sidelines of the 2026 edition of the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) held in New Delhi.
A Shield Against Piracy
Mahabeer emphasized that India's presence as a net security provider is vital for the stability of the region. He specifically pointed to the recent surge in piracy incidents during late 2023 and throughout 2024, noting that India has been "instrumental in addressing, encountering, and suppressing" these threats.
According to the IOC official, India's capabilities allow regional partners to achieve security goals that they might not be able to accomplish independently. He highlighted the Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) as a critical tool, praising its ability to facilitate the sharing of maritime information and provide countries with a clearer understanding of activities at sea.
Persistent Maritime Threats
Despite the progress in security, Mahabeer warned that the region still faces several daunting challenges that require reinforced international collaboration. These include:
- Drug Trafficking: The Western Indian Ocean has emerged as a major transit point for narcotics, with nations like Mauritius and Seychelles being significantly impacted.
- Arms Trafficking: The region continues to struggle with the movement of light arms via sea vessels.
- Environmental Hazards: Citing the Wakashio oil spill in Mauritius, Mahabeer stressed the urgent need for global cooperation to combat marine pollution.
- Illegal Fishing: Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing remains a persistent threat to ocean sustainability.
From 'Small Islands' to 'Big Ocean States'
Adding another perspective to the dialogue, Karuna Rana, the Founding Director of the Big Ocean States Initiative (BOSSI), Mauritius, called for a paradigm shift in how the world views island nations. She argued that these nations should no longer be labeled merely as "small island developing states."
"These very islands control 30 per cent of the world's oceans and seas, and on average, we are 95 per cent ocean and only 5 per cent land,"Rana explained, asserting that they are, in reality, "big ocean states" and custodians of vast maritime spaces.
Rana highlighted that because island nations are the first to experience the devastating effects of climate change, they are also the first to innovate solutions. She urged the international community to invest in these nations and learn from them, noting that this recognition would give them a stronger voice at the United Nations to demand urgent action on ocean protection and climate change.
Strengthening India-Maldives Ties
The dialogue also touched upon the bilateral relationship between India and the Maldives. Athaulla A Rasheed, a former Maldivian State Minister and senior foreign affairs official, noted that the partnership has grown stronger over the years. He identified data sharing, information exchange, and knowledge development as the primary pillars for further strengthening the security partnership between the two neighbors.