India, taking a significant step in foreign policy planning, has established an Indo-Pacific division within the Ministry of External Affairs. This recent development is designed to provide a more structured approach to India’s policy towards the region, echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statements at the 2018 Shangri-La Dialogue.
Significance of PM Narendra Modi’s Shangri-La Speech
In his address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, the Prime Minister asserted India’s balanced approach towards diplomatic ties with Russia, China, and the United States. This maneuver reaffirms the nation’s strategic autonomy and highlights India’s position on discouraging the resurgence of ‘great power rivalries’. Furthermore, he clarified that India’s Indo-Pacific strategy is not targeted at containing China.
Modi’s view of the Indo-Pacific recognises it as primarily a geographic domain – a “natural region”. He dismissed the notion of a single country dominating the region, asserting instead that the Indo-Pacific should be multi-polar. This reinforces India’s indispensable role in ensuring the security of the Indian Ocean.
Why the Separate Indo-Pacific Division?
Territorial divisions within the Ministry of External Affairs play a critical role in policy formulation. Consequently, an Indo-Pacific division’s creation marks a notable stride by the government. The new division aims to integrate the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), ASEAN region, and the Quad, reflecting the geographical expansiveness of India’s foreign policy.
Increased attention will be paid to IORA because India’s Indo-Pacific policy is firmly rooted in the Indian Ocean. Coincidentally, the US also recently renamed its Pacific Command to the Indo-Pacific Command, signalling its own enhanced focus on this region.
Shangri-La Dialogue and Its Importance
The Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) is an annual intergovernmental security forum organized by the independent think tank, the International Institute for Strategic Studies, in Singapore. Over the years, SLD has grown into a key strategic gathering for the Asia-Pacific region, attracting defense ministers, permanent heads of ministries, and military chiefs from across Asia-Pacific states.
Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)
The Indian Ocean Rim Association is an inter-governmental organization founded on March 7, 1997. The IORA currently consists of 21 member states, comprised mainly of littoral Indian Ocean states, and includes seven other states as dialogue partners.
Quick Facts
| Year Established | Organization Name | Member count |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) | 21 |
| 2019 | Indo-Pacific Division in MEA | N/A |
| Annual | Shangri-La Dialogue | N/A |