Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Kochi, in partnership with Pacific Forum, Hawaii, is organising a webinar on ‘Human and Climate Security Threats in the Indo-Pacific: Scope for India-US Maritime Partnership’ on December 21, 2023, at 6 PM IST (GMT+ 5.5 Hours).

ABOUT THE TOPIC

The shared security interests of India and the US, along with their geopolitical significance, underscore the importance of the strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific region. The growing partnership between India and the USA in the Indo-Pacific region explores key aspects such as maritime security cooperation, counterterrorism and intelligence sharing initiatives, defence technology cooperation, and joint research and development. Most importantly, the Indian Ocean becomes more important as a strategic trade corridor, carrying about two-thirds of the world’s crude oil shipments and a third of its bulk cargo. This has caused the security architecture to shift from the Asia-Pacific to the Indo-Pacific. 

Due to various factors, such as increasing geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, increasing human security concerns, and climate change-induced security threats, India-US maritime security cooperation holds more promise than ever. India has a larger responsibility in the Indo-Pacific region as the island countries around the Indian Ocean region depend on New Delhi in the face of various human security threats, such as natural disasters, illegal migration, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU), and human trafficking. India is also concerned about the growing Chinese naval presence in the Indian Ocean in the context of growing geopolitical tensions in the South China Sea. The Indian Navy has been actively working towards capacity building and capability enhancement with likeminded countries in the Indo-Pacific region. New Delhi also actively provides hardware platforms, including ships and aircraft for EEZ surveillance, and the navy has been engaged in the development of maritime infrastructure in the region.   

The United States and India are critical players in the Indo-Pacific region in ensuring maritime security and freedom of navigation. Washington is a natural partner for India in expanding its technological and planning capabilities, and New Delhi is a trusted power in the region in maintaining a rule based order. Since the US recognised India as a ‘major defence partner’, Washington’s defence relations with India have been enhanced, like those of its closest allies. The US has been supporting India’s role as the net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region, building defence cooperation and interoperability, and increasing cooperation on shared regional security cooperation in the region. 

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS

• Human and state security concerns in the Indo-Pacific region, including IUU, illegal migration, ecological damage and calamities, and increasing conventional security threats.
• Prospects for New Age Defence Cooperation: Information, Intelligence and Capability Sharing between India and U.S.
• Climate security concerns in the Indo-Pacific region.
• Role of bilateral or multilateral military and naval exercises spearheaded by India and US in countering regional state and non state actor threats.
• The future of QUAD in shaping defence agendas and regional security architectures for India and the U.S. 

SPEAKERS

Prof. Jeffrey Payne, Assistant Professor at the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies, U.S.A.

He pilots NESA’s maritime security programming, including its ongoing series devoted to the Indian Ocean Region and wider Indo Pacific. In addition, he leads NESA’s engagements relating to maritime and littoral information sharing/data analysis. Professor Payne conducts analysis on Chinese foreign policy, Indian Ocean Regional affairs, and maritime security.

Dr Monish Tourangbam, Honorary Director of Kalinga Institute of Indo-Pacific Affairs, India

Formerly, he was a Senior Assistant Professor at the Department of Geopolitics and International Relations, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE). Prior, he was Associate Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi and taught U.S. History and Politics as a Guest Faculty at Ansal University. He was a Visiting Faculty at the Department of Political Science, University of Cincinnati, Ohio. He was also a South Asian Voices (SAV) Visiting Fellow at the Henry L. Stimson Centre, Washington D.C.

MODERATOR

David Santoro, President of Pacific Forum, U.S.A. 

He specializes in strategic deterrence, arms control, and nonproliferation. Santoro’s current interests focus on great-power dynamics and US alliances, particularly the role of China in an era of nuclear multipolarity. His new volume U.S.-China Nuclear Relations – The Impact of Strategic Triangles was published by Lynne Rienner in May 2021. Santoro also leads several of the Forum’s track-1.5 and track-2 strategic dialogues.