Maritime security involves the protection of sea routes, marine resources, and coastal infrastructure from threats such as piracy, smuggling, illegal fishing, and geopolitical rivalries. As emphasized by Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, maritime security today must be viewed as a dynamic, networked, and adaptive system that extends beyond traditional threat containment to ensure strategic stability and sustainable maritime governance.
Maritime security refers to protecting national and international waters from activities that threaten navigation, commerce, and marine stability. It encompasses:
It serves as the backbone of a nation’s blue economy and strengthens its geostrategic influence in global waters.
Global seaborne trade growth has slowed sharply — projected at 0.5% in 2025 compared to 2.2% in 2024. Conflicts, coercion, and natural disasters have disrupted shipping lanes and global supply chains. This slowdown highlights strategic fragility in the maritime economy and affects economic and energy security.
The rise of Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, arms and narcotics trafficking, and human smuggling has become a major concern. Non-state actors exploit ungoverned maritime spaces and weak law enforcement mechanisms, undermining regional stability.
Emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), autonomous vessels, and commercial satellite networks have transformed maritime surveillance and warfare. However, cybersecurity vulnerabilities in naval command, communication, and logistics systems pose serious risks to operational security.
Major power rivalries in the Indo-Pacific region have intensified, impacting sea-lane safety and access to maritime resources. Strategic chokepoints like the Strait of Malacca and the South China Sea remain potential flashpoints for conflict, affecting regional and global trade flows.
India has expanded the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in Gurugram, which will host 50 International Liaison Officers by 2028. This enhances real-time maritime domain awareness, improving coordination and early threat detection across partner nations.
Use of AI, drones, and satellite systems for monitoring illegal maritime activities is being prioritised. Strengthening cyber resilience across naval platforms and communication networks is also critical to counter emerging digital threats.
Regional initiatives such as the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) promote collective maritime strategies and shared situational awareness. These platforms encourage joint operations, coordinated patrols, and policy harmonisation among Indo-Pacific nations.
Promoting adherence to global maritime norms under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is vital. India is enhancing coastal policing capacity and strengthening regional maritime law enforcement institutions to combat non-traditional security challenges.
Maritime security in the Indo-Pacific era mirrors the evolving complexity of global geopolitics — interconnected, technology-driven, and volatile. Ensuring peace and stability in the oceans demands cooperative, multi-dimensional strategies that integrate economic, environmental, and security interests. For India, a resilient maritime policy anchored in partnership, innovation, and sustainability will be key to shaping a secure Indo-Pacific future.
Kutos : AI Assistant!
