The Indian government is planning to deploy Naval Liaison Officers (LOs) in Madagascar’s Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre (RMIFC) and the European Maritime Awareness in the Strait of Hormuz (EMASOH) in Abu Dhabi. This development is aimed at enhancing Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and follows India’s induction as an observer to the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) in March 2020, alongside Japan and the United Nations.
Objective of the Move
The primary intent is to strengthen linkages between the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) situated in Gurugram and other IFCs globally. This move will facilitate IFC-IOR to be the key repository for all maritime data linked to the Indian Ocean Region. India is also collaborating with France, a significant member of IOC, to post a Naval LO in the RMIFC in Madagascar.
About RMIFC
The RMIFC, functioning under the IOC umbrella, aims to enhance maritime domain awareness through tracking maritime activities and promoting the exchange and sharing of information. The Naval LO is expected to assume duty at EMASOH by July and at the RMIFC by September or October 2020.
Placement of Liaison Officers
India already has a LO stationed at the IFC in Singapore for over four years. The new proposal will add to this existing network by placing officers explicitly in EMASOH and RMIFC.
A Closer Look at the Indian Ocean Commission
Founded in 1984, the IOC is an intergovernmental body designed to safeguard the interests of the western Indian Ocean islands. The members include Madagascar, Comoros, La Réunion (French overseas territory), Mauritius, and Seychelles. The IOC has five observers: China, European Union (EU), Malta, International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), India, Japan and the UN.
About EMASOH
France initiated EMASOH with the objective to monitor maritime activity and ensure freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. Based at the French naval base in Abu Dhabi (UAE), it was declared operational by the French Ministry of Armed Forces in February 2020.
India’s Other Initiatives
To bolster its naval force’s strength and enhance surveillance, India has recently signed a series of white shipping agreements, Logistics Support Agreements (LSA), and maritime cooperation agreements with numerous countries. For instance, during the India Australia Virtual Summit, there was a shared vision announced for maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. It included deepening navy-to-navy cooperation and strengthening MDA in the Indo-Pacific region via improved information exchange.
India’s IFC-IOR
In December 2018, the Indian Navy established the IFC-IOR within the Information Management and Analysis Centre (IMAC) located in Gurugram. This centre is designed to track maritime movements in the region. Several countries such as France, USA, Australia, Japan and the UK have expressed their intent to post LOs in this centre.
Way Forward
India’s engagement in the Western Indian Ocean will assist in collective engagement with the islands, which are strategically significant. With China’s growing presence in the region, India can increase its naval presence and garner support for its maritime projects across the Indo-Pacific. The consultative, democratic, and equitable leadership of India can help achieve security and sustainable growth in the region.