Jaishankar calls for ‘collective stewardship’ as Indian Ocean faces rising turbulence

Port Louis (Mauritius), April 11. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar urged Indian Ocean nations to strengthen cooperation and assume “collective stewardship” of the maritime region amid growing geopolitical turbulence, economic fragmentation and security challenges.

Delivering the keynote address on Apri 10 at the 9th Indian Ocean Conference hosted in Mauritius, Jaishankar underlined that the Indian Ocean is no longer just a geographic space but an ecosystem critical for resources, connectivity, culture and livelihoods. He warned that disruptions in the region – from conflicts to chokepoint vulnerabilities – are now directly affecting food, fuel, fertiliser supplies and global trade flows.

Thanking the Government of Mauritius, Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful and organisers India Foundation for hosting the conference, Jaishankar noted that the annual gathering had acquired special relevance at a time when both the world and the Indian Ocean are witnessing heightened instability.

Ocean centrality, global fragmentation

Jaishankar laid out five key reflections for the conference deliberations. He stressed the fundamental importance of the Indian Ocean as a shared ecosystem, calling for long-term regional cohesion even as the world becomes more fragmented and inward-looking.

He pointed out that while earlier decades focused on overcoming colonial-era barriers through regional connectivity and cooperation, current global trends show rising competition, weaponisation of interdependence and growing anxieties over chokepoints – not just physical ones like sea lanes, but also in finance, technology, resources and knowledge systems.

Describing the Indian Ocean as in many ways a “Global South Ocean”, he said collective resilience was the answer to emerging challenges. India’s approach, he said, is reflected in its MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) outlook and ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.

Impact of West Asia conflict

Referring to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Jaishankar said all Indian Ocean countries were feeling its economic consequences. He expressed concern over attacks on civilians, infrastructure and commercial shipping, emphasising that maritime navigation must remain safe and unimpeded.

He noted that high energy prices, disrupted trade and fertiliser shortages were having cascading effects on food security and livelihoods across the region, underlining the need to address both immediate challenges and underlying vulnerabilities.

Expanding security challenges

Jaishankar said the spectrum of maritime challenges had widened, blending traditional threats with “grey zone” activities. Recalling the disruption of shipping in the Red Sea in recent years, he said no single country could secure the maritime space alone.

He called for cooperation rooted in transparency and respect for international law, describing the Indian Ocean as global commons where responsibilities must be shared.

He highlighted the role of institutional mechanisms such as the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region, and regional platforms including the Indian Ocean Rim Association, the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, the BIMSTEC, the Colombo Security Conclave, and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium in enhancing dialogue, capacity building and maritime domain awareness.

India as ‘first responder’

Jaishankar reiterated India’s role as a “first responder” in the region, citing humanitarian and disaster relief operations in Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Mozambique and responses to oil spills in Mauritius and Sri Lanka. He referred to Operation Sagarbandhu in Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah, where India provided extensive relief assistance along with a $450 million reconstruction package.

Development partnerships across the region

The minister detailed India’s development partnerships across Indian Ocean states:

In Mauritius, projects include the Metro Express, water supply systems, a police academy, forensic lab, archives, a newly dedicated renal transplant unit and handover of 90 e-buses, along with a new Special Economic Package covering health, transport and infrastructure.

In Seychelles, India has extended another Special Economic Package.

In Sri Lanka, Indian projects span housing, health, education, connectivity and livelihoods.

In the Maldives, India is executing the Greater Male Connectivity Project, road, sanitation and airport works.

In Madagascar, India is supporting agriculture and energy, including large rice supplies.

Partnerships with Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Tanzania and Mozambique were also cited as transformative.

Maritime capacity and defence cooperation

Jaishankar noted that India has supported regional partners in monitoring their Exclusive Economic Zones through training, equipment support and establishment of facilities such as the Maritime Rescue and Coordination Centre in Sri Lanka.

On defence cooperation, he said joint exercises like Exercise AIKEYME, Exercise Dosti and Exercise MILAN help build interoperability and trust.

Connectivity as the binding thread

Emphasising connectivity as central to regional prosperity, Jaishankar said India was at the heart of initiatives such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, the International North-South Transport Corridor and the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway. He stressed that connectivity must be transparent, consultative and respectful of sovereignty.

Role of IORA and the Quad

As current Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association headquartered in Mauritius, India aims to promote sustainable development and regional integration, he said.

Jaishankar also noted the relevance of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue to Indian Ocean cooperation, recalling that Quad collaboration began in the region in 2004. He highlighted recent initiatives such as maritime domain awareness, logistics cooperation and cable connectivity resilience.

Call for shared responsibility

Concluding his address, Jaishankar said that in a volatile era, Indian Ocean nations must move beyond narrow calculations and embrace a broader vision of shared responsibility to ensure a free, stable and prosperous maritime region.

“By working together, we can ensure a free, stable and prosperous Indian Ocean region. India remains fully committed to that endeavour,” he said.