Maarg Manthan · Topic 18.7

Indo-Pacific Vision and Strategy

International Relations & Places in News › India's Foreign Policy Doctrines and Principles · Topic 18.7

India's Indo-Pacific vision was set out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on 1 June 2018. He described the Indo-Pacific as a natural region stretching from the shores of Africa to those of the Americas, and said that India's vision is free, open and inclusive, based on a rules-based order, a common rule of law, freedom of navigation and peaceful settlement of disputes, with ASEAN at its centre. In November 2019, at the East Asia Summit in Bangkok, India launched the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, IPOI, built on seven pillars. In April 2019 the Ministry of External Affairs created an Indo-Pacific Division to coordinate policy across the Indian Ocean and the Pacific.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · International Relations · India's Foreign Policy Doctrines and Principles

At a Glance

Speech Shangri-La Dialogue, 1 June 2018
Principle Free, open, inclusive; ASEAN central
IPOI Launched November 2019, seven pillars
MEA unit Indo-Pacific Division, April 2019
Partners Quad, France, ASEAN, Japan
Exam link UPSC Prelims, International Relations: India’s Foreign Policy Doctrines and Principles

Where Does It Fit?

This is the seventh topic of the macro on India’s foreign policy doctrines and principles. It widens SAGAR and Act East into one strategic frame for the Indian and Pacific oceans. Previous topic: SAGAR Doctrine (Security and Growth for All in the Region). Next topic: Non-Alignment 2.0.

What Are the Principles of India’s Vision?

Free, open and inclusive: the region should be open to all nations with a stake in it, including China, and not be built against a single country.
Rules-based order: respect for international law, sovereignty, territorial integrity, freedom of navigation and overflight and peaceful settlement of disputes.
ASEAN centrality: ASEAN and its forums, such as the East Asia Summit, should remain at the heart of the regional architecture.
Shared prosperity: connectivity that is based on openness, transparency and respect for sovereignty, and not on debt-heavy projects.
Strategic autonomy: India joins groupings such as the Quad but does not become a treaty ally of any country.

How Has India Put It Into Practice?

Instrument	Detail
Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative	Launched in 2019 on seven pillars: maritime security, maritime ecology, maritime resources, capacity building and resource sharing, disaster risk reduction and management, science and technology cooperation, and trade connectivity and maritime transport. Partner countries lead different pillars
Quad	India, the United States, Japan and Australia, which held their first leaders’ summit in 2021, cooperate on maritime security, vaccines, technology and climate
Malabar exercise	A naval exercise with the United States, Japan and Australia
Bilateral partnerships	Strategic ties with France, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan and Australia, including defence sales such as BrahMos to the Philippines
Logistics pacts	Agreements for logistics support with the United States, France, Japan, Australia and others
Economic track	India joined the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework in 2022 but opted out of the trade pillar

What Else Should You Remember?

Japan and India: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s 2007 speech to the Indian Parliament on the confluence of the two seas is seen as an early statement of the idea, and India and Japan work together on projects such as the Asia-Africa Growth Corridor.
France: India and France agreed a joint Indo-Pacific roadmap in 2018, and France has territories in the Indian and Pacific oceans.
Other strategies: Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific from 2016, the United States’ Indo-Pacific Strategy, the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific of 2019, and the French and EU strategies.
AUKUS: the 2021 pact among Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States for nuclear-powered submarines, which India is not part of, as in Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD).
China’s view: China sees the Indo-Pacific as a US-led effort to contain it, while India says that it is not directed against any country.
Geographic range: India defines the region from the east coast of Africa to the west coast of the Americas, a wider range than some others.
IPEF: the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework of 2022, in which India took part in three pillars, as in Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).
Link to SAGAR: SAGAR covers the Indian Ocean and the Indo-Pacific vision extends beyond it, as in SAGAR Doctrine (Security and Growth for All in the Region).

Why Does It Matter and What Are the Debates?

Trade and energy lanes: a large share of India’s trade passes through the Indo-Pacific sea lanes, including the Malacca Strait.
Balance of power: a stable balance helps India to counter coercion on its borders and in the maritime domain.
Autonomy debate: some argue that closeness with the Quad reduces autonomy, while the Government says that it hedges and keeps ties with Russia and the Global South.
Capability gap: India’s navy and economy are smaller than China’s, so it relies on partners, while land border issues also absorb resources.
Exam pattern: questions ask the venue of the speech, IPOI pillars, Quad members and the difference from the US concept.

As an analytical point, India’s concept is a framework of inclusion and balance. It uses the Indo-Pacific label for its eastern and maritime interests without a formal alliance.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Facts Speech and IPOI asked
Concept Inclusive, ASEAN-centred
Debate Autonomy and Quad

What Came Next?

The next topic covers Non-Alignment 2.0. Next topic: Non-Alignment 2.0.

Key People and Terms

Indo-Pacific Region linking Indian and Pacific oceans
IPOI Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative
Shangri-La Dialogue Defence summit held in Singapore
ASEAN centrality ASEAN at the heart of regional forums
Freedom of navigation Right of free passage at sea
Rules-based order Order based on agreed laws

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Shangri-La speech on 1 June 2018.
IPOI launched November 2019, seven pillars.
Indo-Pacific Division created April 2019.
Principle: free, open, inclusive.
India is not in AUKUS.

Do Not Confuse With

Indo-Pacific and Asia-Pacific Includes the Indian Ocean versus Pacific-centred
Quad and AUKUS Four-country dialogue versus three-country security pact
IPOI and IPEF Maritime initiative versus economic framework

Memory Hook

Singapore eighteen, Shangri-La speech; free, open, inclusive, with ASEAN in the middle; IPOI’s seven pillars in nineteen.

Mains Angle

Questions ask how India balances its choices in the Indo-Pacific. These points add depth.

Vision Inclusive and rules-based
Tools IPOI, Quad, partners
Debate Autonomy and capability

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Examine India’s vision of the Indo-Pacific and discuss how it differs from the approaches of other major powers.”

How to Answer

Vision 2018 speech.
Tools IPOI, Quad.
Compare US, Japan, China.
Debate Autonomy.

GS Relevance

Prelims: Shangri-La speech, IPOI pillars, Quad link. GS Paper 2: India's role in the Indo-Pacific and groupings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is India's vision of the Indo-Pacific?

India's vision, set out by Prime Minister Modi at the Shangri-La Dialogue on 1 June 2018, is of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific based on a rules-based order, freedom of navigation, peaceful settlement of disputes and ASEAN centrality. India says the vision is not directed against any country.

What is the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative?

The Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, IPOI, was launched by India at the East Asia Summit in Bangkok in November 2019. It has seven pillars: maritime security, maritime ecology, maritime resources, capacity building and resource sharing, disaster risk reduction, science and technology cooperation, and trade connectivity and maritime transport.

How does India's Indo-Pacific concept differ from that of the US?

India stresses inclusiveness, ASEAN centrality and strategic autonomy and avoids framing the concept against any country, while the United States ties its strategy to alliances and to competition with China. India also defines the region more widely, from the east coast of Africa to the west coast of the Americas.

What is the Quad?

The Quad, or Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, is a grouping of India, the United States, Japan and Australia that cooperates on maritime security, technology, vaccines, climate and infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific. It held its first leaders' summit in 2021 and is not a military alliance.

Is India a member of AUKUS?

No, India is not a member of AUKUS, the 2021 security partnership of Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States for nuclear-powered submarines and advanced technologies. India works with some of these countries through the Quad and bilateral ties but does not take part in treaty alliances.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 Modi outlined India's Indo-Pacific vision at the Shangri-La Dialogue.

True

On 1 June 2018.

2 IPOI has seven pillars.

True

Launched in 2019.

3 India is a member of AUKUS.

False

AUKUS includes Australia, UK and US.

4 India's vision rejects ASEAN centrality.