WORLD trade relies heavily on sea routes, with approximately 90% of goods transported by maritime transport.
Raw materials, finished goods, crude oil and security equipment are traded globally in this trade exchange, minimizing costs. China is expanding its strategic influence in the Indian Ocean, notably through the Gwadar and Hambantota ports as part of its “String of Pearls” initiative. The US counters this by leveraging its bases across the Indian Ocean. This region’s control of trade routes is now the focus of global competition to influence world events. The Asian Hegemon will be whoever controls this region.
The Indian Ocean, covering 20% of the global ocean area, is crucial for connecting Africa, Asia and Australia. Global trade heavily relies on the Indian Ocean region, making it a key strategic area. There are 38 countries around the Indian Ocean Region. Spanning more than 6,200 miles, it facilitates roughly 80% of global trade. This gives the region enormous significance. To grasp its true significance, it must be studied as a single strategic continuum rather than isolated national zones or disconnected sub-regions.
The islands scattered across the Indian Ocean—from the Strait of Malacca in Southeast Asia to the Mozambique Channel off Africa’s coast—occupy critical geographic positions that are once again taking centre stage in global geopolitics. Historically pivotal during European colonization and World War II, these islands served as military outposts and maritime waypoints, enabling control over vast swaths of the ocean. Today, however, they are sovereign actors in their own right, asserting agency in shaping regional dynamics through foreign policy, security strategies and economic partnerships.
A compelling new analysis presents three core arguments: first, that the Indian Ocean must be viewed as one continuous geographic and strategic space; second, that growing competition—particularly between China and other powers—will increasingly define the region’s future; and third, that the islands and littoral states themselves will be decisive in steering the course of this competition. While the Indian Ocean’s geopolitical relevance waned after the Cold War, its importance has resurged due to renewed maritime competition and global economic interdependence. Encompassing over one-fifth of the world’s ocean surface, it serves as a vital corridor connecting Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe. This oceanic expanse hosts some of the world’s most crucial sea lanes of communication (SLOCs), carrying the bulk of global energy trade—particularly oil and petroleum products. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, four of the world’s seven critical maritime chokepoints lie within the Indian Ocean: the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb, the Strait of Malacca and the Suez Canal. Each of these is vital to the flow of energy and goods that sustain the global economy. Additionally, the Mozambique Channel, which runs between Madagascar and the African mainland, is a key conduit for trade along Africa’s eastern coast and routes around the Cape of Good Hope. These waterways border several vital regions, including the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia—collectively forming an interconnected strategic arena.
In times of peace and conflict alike, control over these chokepoints offers immense strategic leverage. The ability to secure—or disrupt—access to these maritime bottlenecks could shift regional and global balances of power. Thus, influence over the Indian Ocean’s sea lanes is emerging as a central objective in 21st-century maritime strategy. European colonial powers leveraged the Indian Ocean’s strategic importance and rich resources, turning it into a major centre for trade and resource exploitation. Colonies and trading posts were established to control sea routes and extract resources such as spices, textiles and precious stones to power their economies. The exploitation caused major economic, social and cultural inequalities that still affect the region. What differentiates today’s context from the colonial era is that many of the Indian Ocean’s island nations—such as Mauritius, Seychelles and Sri Lanka—are no longer pawns in great power rivalries. They are independent, increasingly assertive and actively shaping maritime governance, security cooperation and economic development across the region. Their geographic positions make them indispensable for any long-term strategic plan in the Indian Ocean, whether for establishing naval access, monitoring chokepoints, or facilitating regional trade. As these nations chart their course, their choices—alliances, partnerships, or neutral stances—will play a crucial role in shaping the outcomes of major power competition.
The Indian Ocean is more than a vast expanse of water dotted with remote islands—it is a dynamic strategic space where sovereignty, geography and global ambition collide. As competition intensifies, particularly between China and established maritime powers, it will not be the distant capitals alone that decide the region’s fate. Instead, the island nations and littoral states—once colonial outposts—will emerge as pivotal actors in determining the balance of power and the future of the global maritime order. Rising tensions between Iran and Israel threatened an Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, affecting Gulf States’ access to the Arabian Sea and highlighting the Indian Ocean Region’s importance.
Pakistan’s Gwadar port, located at the Strait of Hormuz’s mouth, gives it a significant advantage in the Indian Ocean Region. This strategic advantage can be used by Pakistan to improve its diplomatic standing influencing global power dynamics by carefully managing its alliances with major world powers. Strategic thinking and political wisdom are all Pakistan needs to become a key player in the Indian Ocean Region, a region crucial to the future world order.
—The writer is Commoner from 44th Common Educationist — Founder of WHI Institute.based in Sargodha.
