GS2International Relations·02 Jul 2026·2 min read

Defining the Indo‑Pacific: Geography and Geopolitics

Today India released an updated Indo‑Pacific strategy that shifts focus from American terminology to Asian geography and regional partnerships. The policy aims to counter China’s dual‑ocean expansion while deepening ties with like‑minded nations such as Japan and Australia. It earmarks $10 billion for maritime infrastructure and the deployment of two additional naval vessels to the Indian Ocean by 2028.

•India‑Japan Ties in the Indo‑Pacific: From Abe’s 2007 Vision to a New Strategic Era

India‑Japan Ties in the Indo‑Pacific: From Abe’s 2007 Vision to a New Strategic Era

India‑Japan relations have moved from cultural affinity to a full‑scale strategic partnership as the Indo‑Pacific emerges as the defining arena of Asian power politics. Recent commentary by C Raja Mohan warns that Delhi must avoid being “captive to American enthusiasm or indifference”, underscoring the need for an independent Indian posture in a region reshaped by China’s maritime expansion.

The Indo‑Pacific is not a vague label but a contiguous maritime space stretching from the eastern coast of Africa, across the Indian Ocean, to the western Pacific. It links the Indian Ocean’s energy corridors with the Pacific’s trade routes, making it a crucible for both commercial and security interests.

▸The sea‑lines of communication (SLOCs) that pass through the Strait of Malacca and the Bab al‑Mandeb carry over 80 percent of global oil shipments.
▸India’s eastern seaboard, from Chennai to Port Blair, lies on the Indian side of the Indo‑Pacific, while Japan’s ports anchor the Pacific flank.
▸The region hosts more than half of the world’s merchant fleet and the majority of global container traffic.

The Genesis of the Indo‑Pacific Construct

The term entered policy circles in the early 2000s as China’s navy began operating beyond the South China Sea into the Indian Ocean. Japanese strategists, confronting this shift, argued that the old Northeast‑Asia security architecture was insufficient.

▸In August 2007, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe addressed the Indian Parliament, coining the phrase “Confluence of the Two Seas”.
▸Japan’s 2016 foreign‑policy white paper formally introduced the Free and Open Indo‑Pacific (FOIP) concept, emphasizing a rule‑based maritime order.
▸The United States popularised “Indo‑Pacific” in its 2011 “Pivot to Asia” strategy, but Japan’s articulation predates the US pivot.

India‑Japan Strategic Partnership: From Cultural Ties to Security Cooperation

Historical links—Buddhist exchange, shared Sanskritic heritage, and World War II reconciliation—have paved the way for today’s defence collaboration. The 2008 “India‑Japan Strategic Partnership” framework now underpins joint naval drills, intelligence sharing, and capacity‑building programmes.

▸The 2014 “Reciprocal Access Agreement” allows Indian warships to dock at Japanese bases and vice‑versa.
▸Both nations conduct the annual “Malabar” exercise, originally a bilateral drill, now expanded to include the United States and Australia.
▸Japan pledged to supply the Indian Navy with anti‑submarine warfare helicopters under the India‑Japan Strategic Partnership.

Did You Know? The phrase “Indo‑Pacific” was first used by a U.S. naval officer in 1900, but it only gained strategic prominence after the turn of the millennium.

Economic and Maritime Dimensions of the Partnership

Trade and investment have grown in tandem with security ties. The 2017 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) eliminated tariffs on more than 90 percent of bilateral trade items, deepening economic interdependence.

▸Bilateral merchandise trade crossed $30 billion in 2023, with Japan ranking among India’s top‑five trading partners.
▸Japanese firms have invested over $10 billion in Indian