- Italy’s Strategic Focus: A recent CESI report, in collaboration with Italian institutions, highlights Italy’s strategic and economic focus on the Indian Ocean Region.
- A Crucial Geopolitical Arena: The region is a vital hub for global trade and security, facing competition between major powers such as India and China.
- Italy’s Role and Opportunities: Italy seeks to enhance its role through maritime security initiatives, economic partnerships, and infrastructure development.
The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is a critical arena for global geopolitical and geoeconomic competition. A recent study conducted by the Centro Studi Internazionali (CESI), in collaboration with the Italian Senate, Chamber of Deputies, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Farnesina), highlights Italy’s growing interest in the evolving dynamics of the IOR. The study, authored by Marco Di Liddo, Tiziano Marino, Emmanuele Panero, Alexandru Fordea, and Andrea Russo, provides a comprehensive analysis of the region’s strategic significance.
Geographically spanning from the eastern coast of Africa to the western coast of Australia, the IOR serves as a vital conduit for international trade. Often referred to as the “cradle of globalization,” the IOR hosts key sea lines of communication (SLOCs), with approximately 80% of global oil shipments and 30% of containerized cargo passing through its waters.
The region contains four major maritime chokepoints: the Bab el-Mandeb, Hormuz, and Malacca Straits, and the Mozambique Channel. It facilitates trade worth over $7 trillion annually, with an estimated 90,000-100,000 vessels transiting the ocean each year. However, recent disruptions in the Red Sea due to Houthi attacks have underscored its vulnerability, highlighting the need for enhanced maritime security.
A key aspect of the IOR’s strategic landscape is the intensifying competition between India and China. Both nations are investing heavily in port infrastructure and seeking to solidify their influence through economic and diplomatic engagements with coastal and island states. India’s strategic initiatives, such as SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the Act East Policy, aim to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by modernizing domestic ports and expanding regional partnerships. Key Indian projects include the development of ports in Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Oman, while China continues to expand its presence through investments in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and East Africa.
Emerging players such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Russia are also vying for influence in the region. The UAE, leveraging Dubai’s role as a logistics hub, is focusing on maritime security and trade expansion through projects like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). Saudi Arabia is investing in infrastructure modernization, while Turkey and Russia seek to strengthen their economic and military footholds.
Italy has shown growing interest in the IOR, recognizing its economic potential and strategic significance. Italian involvement includes participation in Operation Atalanta, security initiatives in the Red Sea, and contributions to the IMEC project. Furthermore, Italy’s focus on maritime security and trade opportunities through ports like Gioia Tauro and Trieste underscores its strategic ambitions.
The military dimension of the IOR is increasingly prominent, with major powers establishing or expanding bases. The U.S. maintains facilities in Diego Garcia and Bahrain, while France has bases in Djibouti and the Indian Ocean territories. China has fortified its presence with a military base in Djibouti, and India is developing naval installations in Mauritius and Oman.
The evolving competition for strategic ports and SLOC control will shape global power dynamics in the coming years. As the region becomes increasingly militarized, smaller states face challenges in maintaining their sovereignty amidst the great power rivalry. The IOR’s future will be pivotal in defining the balance of power between the U.S., China, India, and emerging regional players.
