L. Santhosh Kumar, Joshy Mathew, Andi Asrifan
The geopolitical significance of the Indian Ocean has long been recognized due to its strategic location along vital maritime trade routes. An important conduit for the global transportation of commodities and energy, the Indian Ocean ranks third in size among the world’s oceans. Despite its prominence as a commercial center, its role as a transportation hub will only grow in the following decades. The Indian Ocean contains numerous significant waterways that are found all around the globe. Approximately half of all global conflicts occur in the Indian Ocean Region, also home to important marine routes and commerce. For a long time, the maritime administrations and the most powerful nations in the world have seen the Indian Ocean Region as a promising location for commerce, security, and marine resources. Aspects of geopolitics, geoeconomics, and geostrategic planning are shaped by the Indian Ocean, which influences geopolitics in Asia. Marine security is becoming more important as most trade occurs at sea. The reason is that present strategic thinking increasingly prioritizes globalization, particularly concerning economic integration. For a long time, the Indian Ocean’s strategic and geopolitical significance was recognized for its vital role in maintaining economic and military stability. World events that impact regional security have recently influenced shifts in geostrategy within the Indian Ocean region. © 2024 selection and editorial matter, Dr. Sreedevi Santhosh, Dr. Samjaila T. H., Ms. Preethi S., Dr. Steffi Santhana Mary S., Dr. Uma Maheswary and Dr. L. Santhosh Kumar; individual chapters, the contributors.
Kristu Jayanti (Deemed to be University, Karnataka, Bengaluru, India; Universitas Negeri Makassar, Indonesia
