How observer status in IOC could prove to be a Game Changer for India?
With the global attention shifting towards the East from the West boasting on the Indo-Pacific by altering the Euro-Atlantic worldview, India and China have become ocean-oriented and increasingly gathering resources to outcompete others to influence the Indian Ocean Region by establishing themselves as a primary power. Indian Ocean host many crucial Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC) which compels China to secure its place by forming friendly relation with the countries that reside in the Indian Ocean. In turn, it stimulates security dilemma in India which sees the Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean as a violation of its natural space of influence. The western African island countries members of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), namely Madagascar, Comoros, La Réunion (French overseas territory), Mauritius, and Seychelles are essential knowing these island states sits on one of the most strategically critical geostrategic locations.
India, which has been recently accepted as an observer member of the Indian Ocean Commission, looks forward to exploiting this opportunity. Given that China already possesses the status of an observer state, the regional institution is likely to transform into a battleground for the Indo-China rivalry. IOC is an intergovernmental body created in 1984 to protect the interest of the member states. It has granted the observer status to India, China, the European Union (EU), Malta, and the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), a 54 French-speaking collective.
The member countries of IOC are strategically significant to India, and the group can become a conduit in facilitating cooperation between India and the islands countries. Given the growing Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean, the institution can be instrumental in furthering India's engagement with the countries like Seychelles and Mauritius. They are vital to increase Naval presence and to get support for its maritime projects across the Indo-Pacific. The Mozambique Channel is a critical chokepoint situated between the African country of Mozambique and Madagascar, which has lost its significance after the erection of the Suez Canal. Still, the recent instabilities around the gulf have brought back the Channel its importance as an original route for commercial vessels, reinstated it as an important geopolitical location. The blocs importance lies altogether in the importance of the Indian Ocean, which is regarded as the oldest and safest human passes over the thousands of years; Darshana Baruah argues that, “the members identifying themselves as the island countries to break out of their sub-regional identity.” However, the member states are worried about the risk involved in the Great Power Competition but also interested in reaping the benefit of this opportunity.
The group emanates vast security implications for India as traditional and non-traditional security threats confront it. At the same time, there is almost unanimity amongst the IOC members on non-traditional challenges; the group demonstrates sharp contrast on the topic of traditional threats. The group's incapability rendered a gap between its aspirations and capacity; however, as a resident power, India will be the promptest security provider in the area covered by the IOC. This, of course, enables the furtherance of India's SAGAR doctrine, which seeks to encourage the capacities by maritime cooperation to deal with the traditional and non-traditional security threat and fulfill the developmental needs by collaboration.
The commission is an exceptional platform that conjoined India, France, and the EU on the same page. Moreover, France controls the significant portions of the IOC land that will be helpful for India to enhance the security cooperation within the group. In addition, European Union has recently announced its Indo-Pacific policy, and through the IOC, both India and the EU can synergize their efforts for free and open Indo-Pacific.
India, the first responder in the regional security matter, can join hands with regional members like Seychelles and Mauritius to enhance their capacity, maritime surveillance, communication, and port infrastructure. The region consists of an environmental hotspot and is vulnerable to climate change; India can help them enhance the regional institution's capacity for climate studies, waste management, ecosystem management, and resilience of coastal zones.
India's efforts to gain access to the Seychelles coral island has been thwarted by domestic politics, which is quite a setback for India, which was contemplating acquiring the island for its Naval uses; however, India continues to help with its 'Line of Credit' instruments and providing Naval resource. The island diplomacy of India has charted the path to become a responsible and credible leader in the Indian Ocean by protecting the regional security architecture. China has been one of the biggest obstacles in India's approach to be a leader in the Indian Ocean that could be possible only by Naval presence, trade, and infrastructure development aid to these small island states which legitimizes its role as a security provider, thus allowing the more significant influence. China has increased its presence and trade relation with aid program to develop a healthy relationship with these countries. Therefore, the commission acquires significant attention from India, which will help India neutralize China’s ascending pressure on these small countries. President Ram Nath Kovind's visit to Madagascar in March 2018 symbolized the importance of small island countries; however, the island of Seychelles and Mauritius with India primarily seeks to bolster its economic relation and strategic relation.
According to the pundits of international affairs, India as an observer state can influence the agenda-setting and results of the commission. Over the years, India has demonstrated its intention of being the first responder to western Africa, but these regional players do not quickly want to cede India a pretty central role.
References
1. Arunima Gupta (August 30, 2018), India’s Island Diplomacy: Building an Indian Ocean Security Architecture, the Diplomate. https://thediplomat.com/2018/08/indias-island-diplomacy-building-an-indian-ocean-security-architecture/
2. Vinita Revi (2021) India’s approach towards Seychelles in the Indian Ocean Region, ORFonline. https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/indias-approach-towards-seychelles-in-the-indian-ocean-region/
3. Cmde Somen Banerjee (22 April 2020), Growing Salience Of The Indian Ocean Commission:What Has Changed For India As An Observer, National Maritime Foundatio. https://maritimeindia.org/growing-salience-of-the-indian-ocean-commissionwhat-has-changed-for-india-as-an-observer/
4. France and the Indian Ocean Commission, France Diplomacy. https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/
5. Abhishek Mishra (March 29, 2018), Military Base in Seychelles Stalled? The Diplomate. https://thediplomat.com/2018/03/has-indias-plan-to-build-a-military-base-in-seychelles-stalled/
6. Against foreign presence’: India’s plan to build military base in Seychelles stirs controversy, Agence France-Presse, MAR 03, 2018, hindusatntimes.com https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/against-foreign-presence-india-s-plan-to-build-military-base-in-seychelles-stirs-controversy/story-IneroOgnblZVaoXRTtZm1M.html
7. By Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury (Mar 06, 2020), India joins Indian Ocean Commission as observer bolstering Indo-Pacific vision, The Economics times.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-joins-indian-ocean-commission-as-observer-bolstering-indo-pacific-vision/articleshow/74518307.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
8. Stuti Banerjee (3 April, 2020), Joining Indian Ocean Commission: India Bolstering its Indo- Pacific Vision, Diplomatist.com.
https://diplomatist.com/2020/04/03/joining-indian-ocean-commission-india-bolstering-its-indo-pacific-vision/
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(The views expressed are those of the author and do not represent views of CESCUBE.)
