Indian Ocean maritime security: energy, environmental and climate challenges

Abstract

For a comprehensive and meaningful understanding, the maritime-related security challenges facing the Indian Ocean littoral states need to be looked at broadly. Non-traditional security issues – from energy security and climate security to transnational terrorism and environmental degradation – are as important as traditional maritime security issues such as freedom of navigation, security of sea-lanes, maritime boundary and domain security, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and challenges to law and order (including piracy and sea robbery, criminal activities like drug, people and arms smuggling, illicit, unreported and unregulated fishing, illegal immigration, and maritime terrorism). The non-traditional issues extend to the maritime aspects of economic security, food security, environmental security and human security.