New world order in the Indo-Pacific: challenges and prospects for India

Abstract

The Indo-Pacific region has been at the centre of competition between different world powers, being the hub of interaction between state and non-state actors from time immemorial. It is a geopolitical area that spans the Indian and the Pacific Oceans, stretching from the west coast of the US to the west coast of India and beyond. It comprises a 24-nation regional framework taking in the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, the western and central Pacific Ocean, and the seas connecting the two in the general area of Indonesia. The Indo-Pacific region plays an important role in the economic, social and political life of its littoral countries, and the interest of major powers. Since 2011, the term Indo-Pacific has been used increasingly in the global strategic/geopolitical discourse; and, as a framework, the Indo-Pacific is expected to create a connected multipolar region that must be governed by commonly agreed international norms, rules, and practices.