Overview: I was the lead author on this policy brief for Stable Seas. Maritime security in the Indian Ocean is shaped by overlapping issues such as coastal economic fragility, weak governance, illicit maritime activity, and inadequate enforcement capabilities. These interconnected challenges create vulnerabilities that threaten not only national stability but also regional cooperation and development. The article argues that sustainable maritime security in the Indian Ocean depends on coordinated, multidimensional responses led by frameworks like the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

• Economic and Coastal Vulnerability:
  Many coastal communities in the Indian Ocean lack access to economic opportunity, infrastructure, and social services. Environmental stress and exclusion from maritime development leave them exposed to exploitation by criminal networks and vulnerable to instability.
• Governance and Rule of Law Gaps:
  Widespread corruption, political exclusion, and limited judicial capacity undermine maritime law enforcement. These governance deficits reduce public trust and allow illicit maritime actors to operate across a wide area.
• Persistent Illicit Maritime Activity:
  Despite a decline in large-scale piracy, threats such as smuggling, human trafficking, illegal fishing, and unsafe maritime migration remain widespread. These activities exploit weak surveillance and enforcement across vast and porous maritime zones.
• Limited Enforcement and Regional Coordination:
  Most Indian Ocean states lack sufficient maritime assets, trained personnel, and surveillance infrastructure. Regional institutions and coordination mechanisms exist but are often fragmented, under-resourced, or inconsistently implemented.

Bottom Line: The Indian Ocean’s maritime security landscape is defined by structural weaknesses in governance, enforcement, and coastal resilience. A durable solution requires stronger institutions, more inclusive development, and enhanced regional cooperation to address these challenges collectively.