“The Indian Ocean is key to the seven oceans; whoever controls it will dominate Asia, and in the 21st century, the world’s destiny will be decided by its waters,” prophesied Alfred Thayer Mahan, a renowned American naval strategist of the 19th century, reflecting the significance of the Indian Ocean. India is the third-largest ocean in the world, comprising 20% of the world’s water surface, with a water mass of 70.56 million km², touching the borders of 16 African and 18 Asian countries. It is the warmest ocean in the world, making it ideal for trade, commercial, and naval activities, as trade volume via the Indian Ocean exceeds $7 trillion, according to the Indian Ocean Rim report (2024).

Given the geopolitical importance of the Indian Ocean, a new great game has emerged among great powers to maximise their influence, leverage, and power. Traditionally, the USA is considered a Pacific Ocean power due to its hegemonic influence and military bases across the Pacific, stationing American military power in pro-American states such as Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Australia for domination of the Pacific Ocean for strategic and commercial reasons to serve American interests.

However, with the dawn of the 21st century, China’s spectacular economic rise has made its economy the second-largest in the world ($17 trillion). This economic ascent has also led to the modernisation,........

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