IBSA trilateralism and Southern oceans' security – evaluating India's strategic responses

ABSTRACT

The emergence of India–Brazil–South Africa (IBSA) as a key catalysing agent in the security affairs of the Global South is a development of deep political and strategic significance. Since 2008, the IBSA maritime exercises between India, Brazil and South Africa have played a critical security role in the South Atlantic–Southern Indian Ocean theatre, providing a foundation for a broader, more comprehensive regional initiative. The Southern oceanic littorals, however, do need not just need protection against non-traditional threats, but also a workable model of ocean governance that can revive ‘maritime development’ by kick-starting the regional marine economy and reinvigorating the civilian maritime sector. Doing so will require robust contribution from India, whose maritime agencies are well-placed to play an important security and capacity building role.

Keywords:

• Maritime security
• ocean governance
• military diplomacy
• maritime economy
• Global South
• Southern Oceans
• Southern Atlantic
• South-South Cooperation
• Indian Navy
• India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA)
• IBSA Maritime Exercises (IBSAMAR)
• South Western Indian Ocean
• Sea lines of Communications (SLOCs)

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.