As India’s Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) initiative completes a decade, its impact on the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) has become more critical than ever. Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015, SAGAR was envisioned as a framework for regional cooperation, maritime security, and sustainable development in the Indian Ocean.
Over the past ten years, India has deepened its partnerships with key island nations, particularly Mauritius and Seychelles, reinforcing its role as a security provider and development partner. In this week’s Defence Mantra, Editor-in-Chief Nitin A. Gokhale and Neelanjana Banerjee discuss a decade of SAGAR.
Nitin asserts that India’s strategic outreach in the Western Indian Ocean — through naval exercises, defence agreements, and infrastructure investments — has helped counterbalance China’s growing footprint. Beijing’s influence, driven by its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and control over key ports like Djibouti, Gwadar, and Hambantota, poses challenges to India’s maritime security. In response, India has signed defence pacts, developed naval facilities, and conducted Mission SAGAR humanitarian aid operations, showcasing its commitment to regional stability.
India’s Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in Gurugram has enhanced maritime domain awareness, aiding nations in tackling piracy, smuggling, and illegal fishing. The Colombo Security Conclave and Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) have also strengthened security cooperation among IOR nations.
With SAGAR entering its second decade, India faces a defining moment in shaping the Indo-Pacific narrative. Can India sustain its leadership in the Indian Ocean against increasing Chinese assertiveness? This conversation explores SAGAR’s evolution, its geopolitical stakes, and what lies ahead for India’s maritime strategy.
