India’s naval power grows as competition with China intensifies

India has historically focused on its land borders with neighboring Pakistan and China in its defense strategies. However, with its increasing global aspirations, India is now beginning to demonstrate its naval strength in international waters. This includes involvement in anti-piracy patrols and a highly publicized deployment near the Red Sea to safeguard ships during Israel’s conflict with Hamas. When Yemen-based Houthi rebels targeted ships in support of Hamas, causing disruptions in a key trade route, India responded by sending three guided missile destroyers and reconnaissance aircraft in November. This deployment highlights India’s role as a proactive contributor to international maritime stability and reinforces its global power aspirations.

Vice Adm. Anil Kumar Chawla, who previously headed India’s southern naval command, stated that India’s actions are not solely driven by altruism, but by the recognition that a nation must be a maritime power to be a global power. India, already a regional power, is positioning itself to be a major player on the global stage.

India has made these naval deployments well-known, sending a clear message of its intention to assume a broader responsibility in maritime security to the world and to its regional rival, China. This is seen as a way of asserting its maritime ambitions and capabilities.

The Indian navy has assisted multiple ships that were targeted by Houthi rebels and has also participated in various anti-piracy missions. It has notably provided aid to a U.S.-owned ship attacked by a bomb-carrying drone in the Gulf of Aden and helped a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker that was hit by a missile in the same region.

India’s naval involvement has not been a major focus of its foreign policy in the past, but it is increasingly becoming one as it competes with China. The two nations are currently engaged in a military standoff along their disputed border in the mountains.

The growing presence of China in the Indian Ocean, a critical route for its energy supplies, has intensified the maritime competition between the two Asian powers. China boasts the world’s largest navy, with more than three times the number of ships compared to the Indian navy. It also operates a formidable fleet of large coast guard ships and a maritime militia of fishing vessels, which it uses to assert territorial claims in the South China Sea.

China has expanded its engagement in the Indian Ocean through infrastructure deals with India’s neighboring countries, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. This expansion has prompted India to bolster its own naval resources to counter the Chinese presence.

India has increased the navy’s share of its defense budget to 19% from about 14%, reflecting its commitment to enhancing its naval capabilities. Additionally, the Indian navy has established strategic partnerships through joint exercises with other nations in the region and beyond.

The need for India’s strategic thinking to be more maritime-oriented is being emphasized, with the Indian Ocean viewed as a crucial theater for advancing the country’s geopolitical and strategic priorities in the Indo-Pacific region. India, along with the U.S., Australia, and Japan, is part of the Indo-Pacific strategic alliance known as the Quad, which aims to counter China’s assertiveness in the Pacific.

The South China Sea remains a top concern for Indian naval planners, as about 60% of India’s cargo passes through shipping lanes in the region dominated by China. However, India acknowledges that it currently lacks the strength and capability to project power into the South China Sea, given China’s extensive maritime assets in the area.

India recognizes the importance of building up its naval resources to effectively compete with China and is actively working to enhance its naval capabilities, demonstrating its commitment to securing its maritime interests in the Indo-Pacific region.