Mare Varuna: India\u27s Maritime Strategy for The 21St Century

The Indian Navy is undergoing a major expansion and modernization. Does the Navy\u27s transformation reflect a new maritime strategy for India, or are there other reasons for what is happening? If a new strategy, then what is it and will the Indian Navy be able to execute? This paper examines the reasons behind India\u27s current naval buildup and argues that these changes reflect a fundamental shift in India‟s maritime strategy: India, a medium power, is striving to gain the equivalent of superpower status in the Indian Ocean region. Unlike other medium powers, India\u27s maritime strategy is to achieve a position of benevolent dominance in its region of influence - to be the protector of the weak and punisher of the wicked. As viewed from New Delhi, the Indian Ocean is destined to become India\u27s ocean - mare Varuna. The Indian Navy\u27s role is to ensure peace and tranquility in the region. An evaluation of the Navy\u27s ability to carry out this strategy, however, reveals a number of weaknesses that need to be overcome