Indo-French Strategy in Western Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean  has evolved to be one of the greatest International Sea Lanes (ISLs) fulfilling trade between many Asian countries, Europe and Middle-East.  It is the third-largest ocean in the world surrounded by Asia to the north, Australia to the east and Africa to the west. The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region consists of ten countries- Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Comoros, Seychelles, Madagascar, South Africa, Reunion Islands and Mauritius. India, being on the apex of the Indian Ocean has a strategic advantage as compared to the others. Its national, military and economic interests are inseparably linked with it.

African Developmental projects

Oceans’ resources are natural assets that can be used for a lot of developmental activities and also to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The concept of Blue Economy was also introduced in Africa for the same. It emphasised on the continent’s growth, by wealth creation through water bodies surrounding Africa, hence utilising them to their full potential. Each state of the WIO region came up with their own ideas and aims to bring prosperity to their country while conserving the environment. For example, South Africa’s ‘Operation Phakisa’ and Seychelles’ component of the Blue Economy initiative- debt-for-adoption-swap.

Pressure on Ocean Assets and Threats

Inhabitation of coastal areas, construction and extraction activities, food and fishery and services sectors like tourism are the main source of growth for these countries. However, with time, economic development and population growth are increasing the pressure on the ocean. The temperature of the Indian Ocean has been increasing faster than any other tropical ocean. It influences the Sea Surface Temperature (SST) to a great extent, which will henceforth influence the overall climate of South Asian states. With India facing problems like global warming and pollution already, this will adversely affect the climate of the country. It might lead to bigger problems like crop failures and natural calamities too. Therefore, India needs to establish good relations with powerful nations to overcome these in the long run.

Indian hegemony on the Indian Ocean
Using maritime cooperation forums like IORA, IONS, QUAD and AUKUS and projects like Mausam are important for India to attain a strategic advantage and leadership over the Indian Ocean. It is fundamental for the collective prosperity of the nations as well as for building an effective maritime security system in the Indian Ocean Region. The members are the states surrounding the Indian ocean, along with the United Kingdom (British Indian Ocean Territory) and France (Reunion Island). 

These will help India in becoming the net security provider in IOR. India also wants to keep a check on the Chinese presence in the IOR, and acquiring hegemony over the Indian Ocean will give it an advantage over the border disputes between them. 

Indo-French Strategy

India and France have always had friendly relations. Both the countries have signed various agreements and strategic partnerships of Space, defence and civil nuclear cooperation. Hence, the Indo-French maritime security cooperation is important as both have a crucial stake in the IOR. 

An MoU was signed for the arrangement of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and the National Centre for Space Studies (CNES) focussing to co-develop a maritime surveillance satellite system for the Indian Ocean. French personnel have been placed at various locations in the Indian Ocean, and India with its geographically strategic location and qualified navy overlooks the security in the IOR. There was monitoring of vessels and exchange of maritime traffic information between the countries. They also shared their vision to face environmental issues and crimes related to IOR with combined efforts, along with supporting the Indian and French armed forces with facilities. 

Indo-Pacific- Although France is not a part of Indo-Pacific geographically, its policy courses consider it as one. France put forward its ideas of non-hegemony and stable, law-based order in the region, strengthening its strategic partnership with India.

Conclusion

The French interference in the maritime affairs along with the Indian participation in the Western Indian Ocean Region have been helping India maintain its strategic advantage. It will strengthen the country’s economy and defence to a great extent. As India has good relations with African states, Indian hegemony will not only help them economically, but socially and technologically as well. This will help in challenging globally dominating nations like China and USA, along with growth and upliftment in developing and underdeveloped countries. With good policies many global problems can be solved with combined efforts of the nations.