Strategic Stewardship: Indias Role in Balancing Maritime Power in the Indo-Pacific Region

Title

Strategic Stewardship: Indias Role in Balancing Maritime Power in the Indo-Pacific Region

Creator

Rathore, Shruti; Lal, Judith Anne

Description

This chapter examines Indias Indo- Pacific maritime vision through soft balancing theory, analyzing how New Delhi navigates Chinas regional assertiveness while managing internal capability constraints. Indias approach integrates normative leadership through UNCLOS advocacy and the evolution from SAGAR to MAHASAGAR doctrine with strategic partnerships via the QUAD, bilateral engagements with Japan and Australia, and ASEAN- centric diplomacy. These frameworks collectively demonstrate Indias commitment to a rules- based, free, and open Indo- Pacific order. However, critical gaps exist between ambition and capability: Indias naval modernization faces delays, budgetary constraints limit fleet expansion, and defense-i ndustrial weaknesses persist. The study reveals that while India successfully positions itself as a responsible regional actor and norm-s etter, realizing its Indo- Pacific vision requires bridging this capability gap through increased naval investment, indigenous defense production, and sustained strategic partnerships. 2026 by IGI Global Scientific Publishing. All rights reserved.

Source

Emerging Maritime Security Strategies of Global Powers;pp.51-76

Date

01-01-2025

Publisher

IGI Global

Coverage

Rathore S., Christ University, India; Lal J.A., Christ University, India

Rights

Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library

Relation

ISBN: 979-833734472-0; 979-833734470-6;

Format

online

Language

English

Type

Book chapter

Identifier

https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3373-4470-6.ch003

https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105032968405?origin=resultslist