Maritime Security Issues in the Indian Ocean Region: Indian approaches towards the problem of piracy in the Gulf of Aden

Indian Ocean, that at one time had been described as a ‘British Lake’|became a thoroughfare for maritime trade that crossed through the|Suez Canal and the Malacca Straits connecting the growing|economies of the East and the West by carrying raw materials, oil and|finished goods. It had seen a great power rivalry between the US and|the Soviet Union during the cold war years and now has become a|major global focal point of a conflict over resources, trade and|environmental issues. The post-cold war era has also seen the|emergence of regional aspirations of littoral states for a greater say in|the issues of stability and order in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).|These aspirations that had, at one time, been articulated in such terms|as the Indian Ocean Community, Peace Zone, Nuclear Free Zone,|had not always been backed by maritime capabilities of these littoral|states. Today the littoral players have started to emerge as relatively|significant actors willing to have a dialogue both, amongst themselves|and with the extra regional powers. The Indian Ocean Naval|Symposium (IONS) is one such initiative.