India-U.S. defense cooperation deepens in western Indian Ocean

Mandeep Singh

Defense cooperation between India and the United States in the western Indian Ocean (WIO) is becoming increasingly strategic, with the region’s waterways considered vital sea lines of communication for rising commercial shipping traffic, according to analysts.

Concerns over assertive actions by Chinese vessels and threats from piracy are among the factors driving the growing collaboration. Defense exercises and foundational agreements underscore the two nations’ commitment to uphold the rule of law and ensure a Free and Open Indo-Pacific.

“The obvious value of the WIO to India and the U.S. is safeguarding the travel routes for energy and goods trade through the Suez Canal,” Dr. Rafiq Dossani, a senior economist and policy analyst at the Rand Corp., told FORUM.

About $1 trillion of shipped goods, including 30% of global container traffic, pass through the Suez Canal annually, with the vast majority of ships first transiting the WIO. The largest portion of the cargo originates in the Indo-Pacific.

The People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) activities in the WIO have raised security concerns, including in India and the U.S., about Beijing’s attempts to expand its influence and military presence. The PRC has increased its naval presence, including submarines and surface vessels, often under the guise of anti-piracy missions. However, the deployment of advanced assets such as nuclear submarines suggests strategic goals. In 2017, Beijing established its first overseas military base in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa, which is near key maritime chokepoints and serves as a logistical hub for naval operations.

Agreements signed between India and the U.S. in recent years facilitate logistical support, secure communication and intelligence sharing, enhancing the partners’ operational capabilities in the region.

“Both India and the U.S. have exhibited normative commitment for a shared, value-based, free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific,” wrote Sayantan Haldar and Vivek Mishra, researchers with the Strategic Studies Programme of India’s Observer Research Foundation (ORF). The nations also have been “cautioned by China’s growing footprint and increasing belligerence in the Indo-Pacific,” they noted in their essay, “Western Indian Ocean: Key Geography for U.S.-India Cooperation,” published by ORF in July 2024.

In addition to Beijing’s expanding presence, the western Indian Ocean has been a piracy hot spot, particularly near the Somali coast. Although incidents have decreased, piracy remains a threat.

Through joint exercises, intelligence sharing and strategic agreements, New Delhi and Washington are enhancing maritime domain awareness and developing capabilities to respond to threats, ensuring safe passage for commercial vessels in the critical waterways.

A notable example, most recently conducted in March 2024, is Tiger Triumph, which was the nations’ first exercise to involve all three branches of the Indian Armed Forces. Drills focus on improving interoperability in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. Additionally, the annual Malabar exercise involving Australia, India, Japan and the U.S. has grown to include joint activities in the western Indian Ocean focusing on maritime security and counterterrorism.

“The importance of the WIO for India cannot be overstated, given its core maritime security interests lie in the region,” Haldar and Mishra wrote. “It remains a critical geography with immense scope for U.S.-India cooperation, especially on issues of maritime security, ocean governance, critical supply chains and regional stability.”

Mandeep Singh is a FORUM contributor reporting from New Delhi, India.