India has long seen itself as a natural leader of the Indian Ocean. India was the hub of Britain’s Indian Ocean Empire, and after a gap of some 60 years, India is now slowly returning as the natural centre of gravity for the region. Its rise as an economic and military power is leading it to look towards an expanded role in its neighbourhood, and on the world stage. Some see India’s interests in the Indian Ocean in terms of preventing the possible ‘encirclement’ by hostile powers. Some consider an expanded Indian sphere of influence as a building block for India’s global interests. Many others see India as having the potential to act as a benign security provider to a troubled region.
On May 7, Gateway House hosted David Brewster, Senior Australia Maritime Fellow, Gateway House in conversation with Nitin Pai, Co-founder and Director, Takshashila Institution, moderated by Manjeet Kripalani, Executive Director, Gateway House, to discuss India’s strategic ambitions in the Indian Ocean as part of the shifting balance of power in Asia.
David Brewster is Senior Australia Maritime Fellow, Gateway House. He is also a Visiting Fellow at the Strategic & Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University, where he specialises in Indian strategic affairs. His publications include ‘India as an Asia Pacific Power,’ and ‘India’s Ocean: the story of India’s bid for regional leadership.’
Nitin Pai is Co-founder and Director, Takshashila Institution, an independent networked public policy think tank, and the Editor of Pragati – The Indian National Interest Review, a magazine focusing on strategic affairs, public policy and governance. Prior to setting up Takshashila, Mr. Pai spent more than a decade with the Government of Singapore shaping its media & communication strategies in the age of the internet and social media.
Manjeet Kripalani is the Co-founder and Executive Director of Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations. She is also the former India Bureau Chief of Businessweek magazine. During her extensive career in journalism (BusinessWeek, Worth and Forbes magazines), she has won several awards, including the Gerald Loeb Award, the George Polk Award, Overseas Press Club and Daniel Pearl Awards.
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