India's evolving Indo-Pacific vision emphasizes security, growth, and regional cooperation
via NewsDay Zimbabwe8 min read
India's Indo-Pacific vision, articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018, advocates for a free, open, and inclusive region. This vision is an evolution of India's foreign and security policy, which shifted from a continental focus to maritime advantages, particularly in the Indian Ocean, since the 1970s. Key initiatives include the 2015 Security and Growth for All in the Region SAGAR policy, which focuses on safety, security, economic cooperation, and sustainable development within the Indian Ocean Region. India also elevated its Look East Policy to the Act East policy in 2014, strengthening engagement with countries to its east, including ASEAN, with which it achieved a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2022. India is a founder of the Indian Ocean Rim Association IORA and has demonstrated its commitment to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief across the Indo-Pacific. In 2025, PM Modi announced MAHASAGAR, an updated version of the SAGAR doctrine, expanding its focus to a global maritime vision with an emphasis on the global south. India actively participates in joint exercises, capacity building, and defense equipment exports to enhance maritime security and domain awareness, as exemplified by Operation Sankalp in 2024 to protect commercial shipping in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea.
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