India’s Maritime Strategy in the Indian Ocean: Liminal Power or Emerging Maritime Hegemon?

Abstract

India’s growing maritime capabilities, as articulated through the evolution from SAGAR to MAHASAGAR policy, represent a significant shift in its regional and global strategy. This article analyses India’s evolving naval posture, with a particular focus on its mission-based deployments (MBDs), port diplomacy, and efforts to expand its strategic influence across the Indian Ocean region. The study attempts to address the question, whether India’s maritime strategy in the Indian Ocean, marked by the evolving naval doctrines, is sufficient to transition India from a liminal power to a maritime hegemon, or will internal constraints and efforts to preserve strategic autonomy continue to limit its regional dominance in the face of growing challenges from China, and what will be the implications for Pakistan with shifting balance of power in waters. Applying the Neoclassical Realist framework, the paper analyses India’s naval posture, port diplomacy, and regional influence. The findings suggest that while India is positioning itself toward maritime hegemony, its internal limitations temper this rise, keeping it in a liminal state for the foreseeable future. The study also infers the strategic implications of India’s maritime posture for Pakistan’s security and the evolving regional balance of power in the dynamics of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), underscoring the growing importance of maritime security and regional stability.