String of Pearls and Necklace of Diamonds: Dissecting the Geo Strategic competition in Indian Ocean

Abstract

The Indian Ocean has become a vital region for global activity over the years. It hosts vital sea routes important for trade and commerce, and many important chokepoints such as Strait of Hormuz, Malacca and Bab al Mandab. Around half of the world‘s trade pass from this region of water. China and India which are Asia‘s two rising powers that aim to dominate this region of water to appease their regional and global ambitions. Both the countries have intentions to increase their strategic influence in order to secure and challenge their competitor. This competitiveness for regional influence between India and China has adversely resulted in a geo-strategic competition in the Indian Ocean. China does not acknowledge such geo-strategic competition with India in IOR, and India also does not confirm such rivalry with China in Indian Ocean. However, China‘s strategic competition can be demonstrated with its growing naval footprint in the Indian Ocean and the developing of military and strategic ties with regional countries such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Myanmar along with the strategy of ‗String of Pearls‘. The Indian leadership takes the Chinese assertive penetration into the Indian Ocean as a strategic challenge and a competitor. India has, similarly, responded with an alternative and balancing strategy, ‗Necklace of Diamonds‘, to counter the Chinese initiatives by deepening its relations and partnership with Iran, Oman, Singapore, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and with other regional countries. This paper aims to highlight their geo-strategic competition in the Indian Ocean and their strategies to dominate and appease their regional and global ambitions.