Guarding the gateway: India-Indonesia coast guard pact targets Malacca and beyond

In a joint statement with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India and Indonesia will deepen cooperation in the maritime sector. The coast guards of the two countries will work together to enhance maritime safety and security in the Indian Ocean.

"Being two neighbouring maritime countries, we have decided to enhance cooperation on the blue economy, port development and maritime trade," PM Modi said.

The decision assumes greater significance at a time when the geopolitical and geoeconomic importance of the Indian Ocean has reached an unprecedented strategic level.

With maritime trade routes increasingly vulnerable to conflicts, piracy and geopolitical rivalries, closer cooperation between India and Indonesia is expected to strengthen regional security and economic resilience.

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Why the Indian Ocean matters

India and Indonesia occupy two strategically important positions in the eastern Indian Ocean. As maritime neighbours connected by the Andaman Sea, both countries are well placed to safeguard one of the world's busiest and most critical shipping corridors.

Indonesia is one of the three key countries bordering the strategically important Strait of Malacca. An estimated 25 to 40 per cent of global maritime trade passes through this narrow waterway, making it one of the world's most vital trade routes. Any disruption in the strait can have far-reaching consequences for global supply chains and energy security.

The importance of secure maritime trade routes was highlighted during the recent West Asia conflict, when Iran and the United States effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 20 per cent of the world's oil trade passes. The disruption affected global energy supplies, with India among the countries facing significant challenges due to the blockade.

Strengthening maritime security

The proposed maritime cooperation lays the foundation for closer coordination between the two countries in areas such as joint coast guard exercises, search and rescue operations, anti-piracy missions, and efforts to combat smuggling, human trafficking and maritime terrorism.

Such cooperation comes at a time when the world's oceans are increasingly emerging as theatres of strategic competition and conflict. During the recent US-Iran conflict, multiple oil tankers came under attack off the coast of Oman. In one such incident, three Indian seafarers lost their lives, underlining the growing risks to commercial shipping.

Piracy has also seen a resurgence in recent years, particularly in the western Indian Ocean near the Gulf of Aden. While the eastern Indian Ocean has remained relatively secure, enhanced cooperation between India and Indonesia could help prevent similar threats from emerging in the region.

Economic and geopolitical implications

The focus on port development and maritime trade is expected to improve regional connectivity, strengthen shipping infrastructure and reduce trade costs. India and Indonesia have also discussed developing the strategically located Sabang Port in Indonesia's Aceh province, which lies close to the Strait of Malacca.

Beyond economics, the maritime partnership carries significant geopolitical implications.

China has steadily expanded its naval presence across the Indo-Pacific in recent years. Beijing's rejection of the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which dismissed its expansive claims in the South China Sea, along with its increasing deployment of coast guard and surveillance vessels in disputed waters, has raised concerns among regional countries.

These developments have encouraged countries such as India and Indonesia to strengthen maritime cooperation and enhance coordination in safeguarding regional waters.

The proposed partnership also aligns with India's broader 'Sagar' (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision and its commitment to promote a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific. As strategic competition intensifies across the region, closer India-Indonesia maritime cooperation could emerge as an important pillar of stability, secure trade and regional security.