Indo-Pacific Strategic Construct

The Indo-Pacific is a way of viewing the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean as one connected strategic and economic space. In international relations, it is not a formal organisation or treaty, but a flexible geopolitical construct centred on sea lanes, maritime security, trade connectivity, rules-based conduct and balance of power. For India, the construct links its Indian Ocean interests with its Act East engagement and wider partnerships in Southeast Asia, East Asia, Australia, Africa and the Pacific.

Key points

• India’s official vision describes the Indo-Pacific as free, open, inclusive and rules-based, with respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, freedom of navigation and peaceful settlement of disputes.
• The construct is maritime in character because the Indian and Pacific Oceans are joined by critical sea lanes and chokepoints through which trade, energy flows and naval movement pass.
• For India’s maritime security, the Indo-Pacific framework supports maritime domain awareness, protection of sea lines of communication, anti-piracy cooperation, counter-terrorism at sea, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and capacity-building with littoral states.
• India links the Indo-Pacific with SAGAR, Security and Growth for All in the Region, which emphasises cooperative, consultative and inclusive security in the maritime neighbourhood.
• India supports ASEAN centrality in the Indo-Pacific, treating Southeast Asia as a key connector between the Indian and Pacific Ocean regions.
• The construct gives India a diplomatic platform to work with regional and extra-regional partners through mechanisms such as the Quad, ASEAN-led forums, IORA and bilateral maritime partnerships, without making the Indo-Pacific a closed bloc.
• For foreign policy, the Indo-Pacific helps India combine maritime security, economic connectivity, Act East policy, neighbourhood outreach and strategic autonomy within a single regional framework.

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