India strengthens strategic presence in Western Indian Ocean

October 27, 2025

The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) has emerged from obscurity to become one of the world’s most strategically significant maritime corridors. Stretching from the Horn of Africa to the Mozambique Channel and dotted with islands like Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar, this region is now a hub of commercial activity and geopolitical attention. Daily, tankers and cargo ships transport oil, gas, and goods essential to economies across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. For India, whose trade and energy lifelines depend heavily on these waters, developments in the WIO directly affect security, economic stability, and long-term strategic interests.

China’s growing presence in the region has attracted international notice. In October 2025, Beijing deployed its 48th Naval Escort Fleet, including the destroyer Tangshan and frigate Daqing, on an anti-piracy mission to the Gulf of Aden. While framed as routine, such missions highlight China’s increasing focus on securing crucial sea lanes. Over the past decade, China has invested in ports and coastal infrastructure, including its military base in Djibouti and the Gwadar port in Pakistan. Commercial projects, such as the Kyaukpyu deep-sea port in Myanmar under the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, also have strategic implications, potentially strengthening Beijing’s maritime and submarine capabilities.

India, meanwhile, maintains a multifaceted strategy in the WIO. Rather than asserting unilateral dominance, New Delhi emphasises partnerships, multilateral engagement, and a rules-based approach. Initiatives such as the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, alongside collaboration with France, the United States, Japan, and Australia, underscore India’s commitment to regional stability. The Indian Navy sustains strong ties with Seychelles, Mauritius, and Oman, leveraging access to strategic facilities such as Duqm Port in Oman and Réunion Island. Exercises like Konkan 2024 enhance interoperability with partner nations.Guiding India’s approach is the Sagar doctrine—Security and Growth for All in the Region—introduced in 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The doctrine envisions India as a “net security provider” while fostering economic development, humanitarian support, and environmental protection. The Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in Gurugram serves as a central hub for maritime intelligence, connecting India with African and Indo-Pacific partners for disaster preparedness, climate resilience, and regional security coordination.Africa’s role in the WIO is increasingly central. Countries along the eastern coast, from Somalia to Mozambique, are vital for India’s maritime security and trade. India’s engagement spans infrastructure, healthcare, maritime security, and energy projects. In Mauritius, investments exceeding $680 million have strengthened ports and monitoring capabilities.

In Mozambique, India’s participation in the $20 billion LNG project with Total Energies reinforces both energy security and local development. In Seychelles, joint naval training programs enhance professional ties.The region’s strategic chokepoints—including the Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, and Mozambique Channel—carry a significant portion of global oil shipments, making security critical. India collaborates with regional and global partners, including France, the UAE, the US, and Saudi Arabia, through coordinated patrols and information sharing.

India balances military presence with development assistance, presenting itself as a reliable partner to smaller island nations prioritising climate and sustainable growth. With China’s growing influence, every infrastructure project, naval deployment, and commercial investment in the WIO factors into India’s strategic calculus.

The Western Indian Ocean is where security, commerce, and diplomacy converge. India’s sustained engagement, partnerships, and naval initiatives ensure it remains a responsible and steady power in the region, shaping the balance of trade, security, and development for decades ahead.