This book introduces the concept of "oceanic strategy," expanding beyond traditional maritime and naval perspectives to include political, economic, socio-cultural, and ecological dimensions. It highlights the Indian Ocean Region as a critical arena for global power competition, where the abundance of resources, strategic significance, and emerging interests have made it a new frontier for opportunity, growth, and conflict. By incorporating aspects like oceanic security, resource exploration, the blue economy, and hydrography, the book presents a broader view of strategic thought and the role of oceanic spaces in national and global geopolitics.

Focusing on key players such as India, China, the US, and other traditional and emerging powers, the book analyses the reorientation of national interests and the intensifying struggle for dominance in the Indian Ocean. It argues that control over this region is crucial for attaining influence in 21st-century geopolitics. The work also addresses non-traditional security threats like piracy and transnational crime, situating the Indian Ocean at the heart of modern geopolitical discourse.

This book is an essential resource for students and scholars of international relations, strategic studies, and political science, offering critical insights into the evolving power dynamics shaping the future of the Indian Ocean Region.

Vidhan Pathak was Associate Professor at the Department of African Studies, University of Delhi, India. Raghvendra Kumar is an Assistant Professor at Department of Political Science, Maharaja Agrasen College, University of Delhi, India.

Oceanic strategy has become the necessary precursor for attaining global power status in world politics. Towards this end, the major attention is now on the Indian Ocean region, which has become the theatre of great geopolitical games with key stakeholders like India, China, US, Russia, UK, France, Japan, and Australia, developing their own strategies and counter-strategies focussed in attaining tactical command in the region. This book presents a comprehensive overview of the oceanic traditions and the strategic culture of all major actors in the Indian Ocean region. It discusses themes like sea power and regional actors; India in the Indian Ocean; China and other Asian powers in the Indian Ocean; great game and US, Russia and other Western powers; Africa and the issue of balance of power; and sea and the emerging world order, to showcase the evolution, challenges and opportunities in the region. Lucid and topical, this book will be useful for scholars and researchers of international relations, geopolitics, strategic affairs, South Asian Studies, Southeast Asian Studies, defence studies, foreign policy, diplomacy and political studies in general.

1.Introduction 2. India in the Indian Ocean: Interests and Strategy 3. China and other Asian Powers in the Indian Ocean 4. US, Russia and other Western Powers in the Indian Ocean 5. African Actors in the Indian Ocean 6. Conclusion