WASHINGTON — India’s growing maritime power has become the linchpin of the Quad’s strategic framework and the cornerstone of long-term stability in the Indo-Pacific, according to a new report released Tuesday.
With China expanding its naval reach and asserting itself more aggressively in regional waters, the report said the Quad’s ability to maintain a free, open, and rules-based maritime order now depends heavily on India’s capacity to safeguard the Indian Ocean, strengthen regional maritime infrastructure, and provide shared security capabilities.
“The future of the Indo-Pacific hinges on the freedom of navigation, the security of sea lanes, and the resilience of maritime infrastructure,” the report in India Narrative stated. “At this critical juncture, India’s maritime transformation — embodied in the Maritime India Vision 2030 and its extension to 2047 — is not merely a domestic policy initiative. It represents a strategic pivot that positions India as an indispensable anchor of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) and a vital counterweight in the evolving geopolitical architecture of the Indo-Pacific.”
Nearly 95 percent of India’s trade by volume moves through maritime routes, making the nation’s economic lifeline deeply dependent on the security and efficiency of its ports and shipping lanes. However, the report emphasized that India’s ambitions go beyond commerce. Its maritime vision is rooted in principles of regional leadership, collective security, and a rules-based maritime order — values that align closely with the Quad’s strategic goals and the broader Indo-Pacific framework.
Through initiatives such as Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, India has adopted a balanced yet assertive maritime policy that has elevated it to the role of a net security provider, enhancing the Quad’s collective capacity. The first-ever Quad at Sea Ship Observer Mission, launched in June 2025, brought together officers from the Indian Coast Guard, Japan, the United States, and Australia. This initiative, the report said, demonstrated operational convergence by improving interoperability, domain awareness, and joint readiness against illegal fishing, piracy, and territorial violations.
India’s maritime ambitions, the report noted, are increasingly intertwined with the future of the Indo-Pacific and the Quad’s mission. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at India Maritime Week 2025, underscored that India’s strategic geography and growing Blue Economy make it a natural hub for regional cooperation and investment.
“India’s coastline, strategic geography, and bold vision for Blue Economy growth position it as a natural investment destination and a maritime leader,” the report observed. “The question is not whether India will shape the Indo-Pacific maritime order, but how swiftly and decisively it can leverage its strategic assets to anchor a free, open, and prosperous region. The waves of change are already in motion — India must navigate them with vision, strategy, and determination.” (Source: IANS)
