Conference flags ocean security, environmental threats, and India’s growing maritime leadership in Global South

As regional turbulence reshapes the geopolitical landscape in South Asia, India is doubling down on its ocean-centric strategic doctrine through the Mahasagar Initiative. A high-level conference hosted by the Chintan Research Foundation on Friday underscored the need to align maritime security with inclusive economic growth and environmental sustainability.

The conference, titled ‘The MAHASAGAR Initiative in the Current Security Context’, brought together defence veterans, policymakers, and researchers to explore the critical role of oceans in India’s security and regional diplomacy. The day-long event came in the wake of heightened India-Pakistan tensions and recent developments at sea.

Oceans at the Strategic Core
In his keynote address, Admiral RK Dhowan (Retd), PVSM, AVSM, YSM, called for a collective, whole-of-nation approach to maritime defence, asserting that India remains prepared to respond to emerging threats with resolve and resilience.

“Armed forces alone don’t go to war — nations do. What we saw recently was a whole-of-nation response, and India is fully prepared to defend itself if required,” he said, referencing the recent Operation Sindoor, widely hailed as a strategic success.

Admiral Dhowan also made a strong pitch for ‘Swachh Sagar’ – a clean sea campaign inspired by the Swachh Bharat Mission – warning against unchecked marine pollution and ocean dumping. “Garbage dumping has had a detrimental impact on the Indian Ocean. Collective action is needed to combat plastic waste and global warming,” he noted.

Maritime Growth for the Region

Opening the conference, Shishir Priyadarshi, President of the Chintan Research Foundation, stressed the Mahasagar Initiative’s unique positioning as a framework for shared maritime prosperity across the Global South.

“We should focus on peace and stability in the Indian Ocean, because this is what will lead to economic and sustained growth. And that is what the ‘G’ in Mahasagar stands for – growth, while ‘R’ reminds us of the region and our shared responsibility,” he said.

The initiative – Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions – gained renewed momentum following the India-Pakistan conflict, exposing long-standing security risks and the deep nexus between state and non-state actors.

Strategic Collaboration and Climate Lens
Sessions through the day examined India’s evolving maritime posture, the risks of maritime terrorism, illegal and unregulated fishing, and the need for inclusive governance of the Indian Ocean commons. The importance of regional and multilateral cooperation to counter non-traditional threats, including climate-induced disruptions, was a recurrent theme.

The event concluded with a strong call to action: integrate ocean-based economic strategies with sustainability and security imperatives – and build resilient regional alliances for the long haul.