INDIA'S INDO-PACIFIC STRATEGIES: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGE MITIGATION

Grounded in the theoretical framework of Neoliberal Institutionalism, this paper examines how India’s Indo-Pacific strategy reflects the pursuit of cooperation, interdependence, and institutional engagement in an increasingly complex regional order. The Indo-Pacific, a 21st-century construct linking the Indian and Pacific Oceans, has evolved into a pivotal arena of global trade, maritime governance, and strategic interaction. For India, this vast maritime space presents both opportunities and challenges requiring collaborative responses rather than unilateral action. India’s policy emphasises a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based order, built upon partnerships with countries sharing democratic values and common security interests. Through participation in institutional frameworks such as the QUAD, ASEAN-led forums, and the Indian Ocean Rim Association, India advances economic connectivity, maritime security, and disaster management, core elements of neoliberal cooperation. Strengthened ties with the United States, Japan, Australia, France, and ASEAN members further reinforce regional interdependence and collective stability. Confronting issues such as China’s assertiveness, technological vulnerabilities, and climate change, India responds through multilateral diplomacy, naval modernisation, and initiatives like SAGAR and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI). Viewed through a neoliberal lens, India’s Indo-Pacific approach prioritises institutional cooperation, shared prosperity, and collective security, aiming to sustain a stable, inclusive, and prosperous regional order.