Strategic Partnerships and Regional Security Architectures under Modi Regime (2014-2019)

Abstract

How has Indian Prime Minister Modi’s domestic policies of Act East and Neighbourhood First Policy
fared in consonance with his foreign policy objectives in the Indian Ocean Region and Indo-Pacific
at the end of his first tenure? To answer this question, this paper presents empirical research that
reviews the role and scope of the maritime component in India’s policy approach from 2014 till
2019 under Modi government towards regional peace and security. A reading of maritime trends
informs the research that New Delhi has been taking a two-pronged, parallel approach to achieve
its goals: India is establishing strategic partnerships at the bilateral level with countries through
military exercises and defence-related trade. Simultaneously, at the multilateral, regional level New
Delhi has shown an increasing interest in developing regional security architectures for
engagement with like-minded countries having common regional interests and objectives. The
research concludes that even though bilateral engagements are moving to delivering its aims of
fostering cooperation, it is under the larger ambit of multilateralism that India needs to develop
normative and operational maritime security frameworks /arrangements in the coming years.