India’s Blue Ocean Leadership

Context

1. Global attention on oceans has intensified with COP30 (Belém, 2025), the outcomes of the 3rd UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), and the entry into force of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement.
2. Major financial commitments to the blue economy were announced at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF), Monaco (2025).
3. India’s stated readiness to ratify the BBNJ Agreement and its growing role in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) place it at the centre of emerging ocean governance debates.

India’s historical role in ocean governance

1. During the UNCLOS negotiations (1970s–1980s), India aligned with small and vulnerable states to uphold the principle that the seabed beyond national jurisdiction is the “common heritage of mankind.”
2. This reflected India’s early recognition, articulated by Jawaharlal Nehru in the 1950s, that national security and prosperity are deeply linked to the oceans.

Present-day ocean crisis

1. Oceans now face unprecedented stress due to climate change, including warming, acidification, sea-level rise, and ecosystem collapse.
2. The Indian Ocean, hosting one-third of humanity, is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable ocean basins.
3. Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, coral degradation, and extreme weather events threaten livelihoods and regional stability.

Strategic choice before India

1. India’s task has shifted from drafting international law to shaping practical regional solutions, ensuring the Indian Ocean becomes a zone of sustainability, innovation, and resilience, rather than rivalry.

Why India’s Leadership is Necessary

1. Moral and historical credibility: India’s principled stand during UNCLOS negotiations gives it legitimacy among developing and island states.
2. Climate vulnerability of the Indian Ocean: Littoral and island nations face existential threats from climate impacts.
3. Geopolitical competition: Security-focused Indo-Pacific narratives risk overshadowing environmental collapse as the root of long-term insecurity.
4. Global finance momentum: Blue economy financing is expanding but requires regional leadership to convert pledges into outcomes.
5. Equity imperative: Ocean governance must balance development, sustainability, and justice for vulnerable coastal communities.

How India Can Operationalise a Blue Ocean Strategy

India’s proposed Blue Ocean Strategy rests on three interconnected pillars:

1. Stewardship of the Commons
   1. Treat the Indian Ocean as a shared space, not a contested one.
   2. Prioritise ecosystem restoration, biodiversity protection, and sustainable fisheries.
   3. Promote cooperative management over competitive extraction.
2. Climate Resilience and Innovation
   1. Establish a Regional Resilience and Ocean Innovation Hub.
   2. Strengthen ocean observation systems, early warning mechanisms, and disaster preparedness.
   3. Enable technology transfer to small island developing states and African coastal nations.
3. Inclusive Blue Growth
   1. Promote green shipping, offshore renewable energy, sustainable aquaculture, and marine biotechnology.
   2. Align development pathways with climate goals through regional coordination and long-term investment.

Financing the Blue Economy: Emerging Global Signals

1. BEFF, Monaco (June 2025):
   1. €25 billion pipeline of existing investments.
   2. €8.7 billion in new commitments with near parity between public and private finance.
2. Finance in Common Ocean Coalition:
   7. $7.5 billion in annual commitments from 20 public development banks.
3. COP30, Belém:
   2030. Launch of the One Ocean Partnership with a goal of mobilising $20 billion by 2030.

India’s Opportunity

1. Creation of an Indian Ocean Blue Fund, seeded by India and supported by development banks, philanthropy, and private capital, to translate finance into region-specific projects.

Security Through Sustainability

1. Traditional maritime security narratives focus on naval balance and sea lanes.
2. The deeper source of insecurity lies in ecosystem collapse and climate disruption.
3. IUU fishing, coral loss, and storm surges undermine livelihoods and social stability.

India’s Strategic Framework

1. SAGAR doctrine (2015): Security and Growth for All in the Region, emphasising peace, stability, and prosperity.
2. Role of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard:
   1. Maritime domain awareness
   2. Disaster response
   3. Ecosystem monitoring
3. India’s approach is cooperative, consultative, and outcome-oriented, not dominance-driven.

Implications

1. Redefinition of maritime security: Sustainability becomes central to long-term stability.
2. Regional trust-building: Cooperative ocean governance reduces rivalry.
3. Economic transformation: Blue economy sectors create climate-compatible growth.
4. Global leadership: India positions itself as a bridge between developed and developing ocean nations.
5. Norm-setting role: Indian Ocean practices could shape global ocean governance models.

Challenges & Way Forward

Conclusion

India’s ocean diplomacy has evolved from norm-setting under UNCLOS to action-oriented leadership in a climate-stressed world. By anchoring sustainability, resilience, and equity at the heart of Indian Ocean governance, India can transform the region into a global model of cooperative blue growth. The moment is ripe, the responsibility historic, and the time to act is now.