The waters of Indo-Pacific represent an increasingly significant avenue for world trade and arena for global security. Rising prosperity around the region, growing dependence on natural resource flows linking producers and consumers from the Middle East and Africa to the Pacific Rim, and globalized supply chains and distribution networks are knitting the Indo-Pacific ever more closely together by sea. At the same time, emerging issues ranging from prospective naval rivalries on the open ocean and weak and failing states on shore, to territorial disputes in the regional seas and intensifying environmental pressures on marine resources and coastal infrastructure, pose significant governance challenges for decision makers and stakeholders. In 2015 the Environmental Security Program will examine the emerging security, socio-economic, commercial, and environmental trends affecting maritime geopolitics around the Indo-Pacific littoral, examine their implications, and formulate policy recommendations.
Publications
The Fisheries-Food Security Nexus
In July 2012 the National Intelligence Council asked the Stimson Center to examine the role of fisheries in ensuring the food supply and food security of the littoral countries of the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea and resulting implications for US security interests. Stimson produced a report analyzing the current status and emerging trends affecting the future sustainability of wild capture fisheries and marine … Read More >>
Indian Ocean Rising: Maritime Security and Policy Challenges
Co-edited by David Michel and Russell Sticklor, Indian Ocean Rising: Maritime Security and Policy Challenges examines emerging trends and challenges in the ocean realm, including the international deployment of naval power, the commercial shipping industry, offshore energy development and natural resources management, the future of the Law of the Sea, and evolving pressures on the marine environment. The report was formally released during a July 2012 launch event hosted at the Stimson Center in Washington, DC. To download the entire publication or individual chapters, please click here; to view video from the launch event, please click here.
Coastal Zones and Climate Change
Coastal Zones and Climate Change examines the emerging environmental stresses on coastal areas of the Indian Ocean and the resulting challenges confronting coastal planners and decision makers in a warming world… Read More>>
The Indian Ocean: Resource and Governance Challenges
The Indian Ocean: Resource and Governance Challenges explores current realities and emerging maritime concerns in the Indian Ocean. Regional experts and Stimson analysts assess the ocean in its multiple roles: a conveyer belt of vital commerce and energy resources, an environmental habitat under stress, and an arena where crime, terrorism, and proliferation occur or could occur, requiring states and regions to address important security concerns… Read More>>
Maritime Commerce and Security: The Indian Ocean
Maritime Commerce and Security: The Indian Ocean describes the commerical trends and their security implications with a view to helping policy makers and others outside the industry understand the vulnerabilities of an industry that is central to the global economy and security. Maritime commerce in the Indian Ocean is vital to global trade, in volume, in the key resources and manufactured goods that it moves, and in the steadily predominating significance of the economies of East Asia, India, the Gulf, Australia, and South Africa… Read More>>
On the Move: Migration Challenges in the Indian Ocean Littoral
On the Move: Migration Challenges in the Indian Ocean Littoral points to how the migration agenda is evolving and adapting to 21st century challenges. Traditionally, migration is separated into two major categories: voluntary, which is often economically motivated and sometimes temporary; and forced, which involves longer term crises of refugees and IDPs… Read More>>
Stimson Center Maritime Security Briefings
Maritime Security Briefing #2 | Indian Ocean Naval Activity Developments | Spring 2012
By Rupert Herbert-Burns
Maritime Security Briefing #1 | Indian Ocean Piracy Developments | Spring 2012
By Rupert Herbert-Burns
Related Analysis
Under the Sea: Natural Resources in the Indian Ocean | July 2, 2013
By David Michel
Plenty of Fish in the Sea? Food Security in the Indian Ocean | August 24, 2012
By David Michel and Russell Sticklor
Tempest Tossed: Meeting Environmental Challenges in the Indian Ocean | March 22, 2012
By David Michel
The Deep Blue Sea: Coastal Zones and Climate Change | May 6, 2010
By David Michel
India Goes to Copenhagen | December 10, 2009
By David Michel
Events
Indian Ocean Rising: Maritime Security and Policy Challenges | July 17, 2012
The Indian Ocean is rapidly emerging as a key focus of international politics. Its strategic energy reserves and natural resources, the growing importance of its ports and shipping lanes, and the rise of India, Indonesia, South Africa, and other littoral nations as increasingly significant regional powers and global players are transforming the Indian Ocean into a major crossroads for multiple security, maritime policy, and governance issues… Read More>>
Maritime Security Rising: Maritime Security Challenge Out to 2030 | October 26, 2011
The Indian Ocean represents an increasingly significant avenue for global trade and arena for global security. Rising prosperity in Asia, growing dependence on natural resource flows linking producers and consumers across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, and globalized supply chains and distribution networks are knitting the region ever more closely together by sea… Read More>>
Maritime Security in the Indian Ocean | December 1, 2009
The Indian Ocean is a region of increasing importance to world commerce, energy security, and environmental concerns, as well as one under threat from piracy, terrorism and resource exploitation. The countries along its rim, many of them in critical economic and political transitions, are important players in determining how these challenges will be managed. The Indian Ocean story reminds us of globalization’s effects on local developments, while local and regional dynamics have a global impact. What are current realities and emerging maritime concerns in the Indian Ocean region? Read More>>
Multimedia
Atiq Rahman on Climate Change, Coastal Disaster Response, Water, and Governance
Atiq Rahman, Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies, discusses climate change, coastal disaster response, water and governance.
Edward Kimani on Fisheries Management in East Africa
Edward Kimani, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, discusses fisheries management in East Africa and the southwest Indian Ocean.
Nirmalie Pallewatta on Environmental Change, Coastal Zones, and Livelihoods
Nirmalie Pallewatta with University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, takes a scientist’s perspective on environmental change, coastal zones and livelihoods.