Abstract
The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is rising significantly as the center stage for world politics in the current century. Due to the geostrategic and economic importance, the region has created conflicts in strategic interest leading to power confrontation among regional and extra-regional powers resulting in security threats for small littorals like Bangladesh. Some of the threats are influential attachments of the powerful states in foreign, trade, economy and defense sectors, poor regional security architecture and an increase of non-traditional security threats. Analyzing the issues reveals that, Bangladesh can navigate these challenges by playing strategic hedging, pursuing multilateralism, recalibrating trade and economic engagements, and comprehensive drive by government agencies to deal with non-traditional security threats.
Highlights
The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) - a great sea area where many civilizations have mingled for hundreds of years is undeniably becoming a strategic junction of the current world affairs
The growing significance of the Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOC), chokepoints, reliance on hydrocarbon resources, growing power of India and China as well as chaotic security environment is being thought an area of vital geostrategic significance
Regionalism serves the interest of small states in particular as they provide security compared to bilateral relations where difference in power/influence are more pronounced. (Baylis, Smith, & Owens, 2017)
Summary
The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) - a great sea area where many civilizations have mingled for hundreds of years is undeniably becoming a strategic junction of the current world affairs. Interest of big powers and other extra regional powers and the proliferation of non-traditional threats by non-state actors are influencing the regional affairs increasingly (Michel & Sticklor, 2012) This is making the littoral countries much uncomfortable in adjusting their positions under such scenarios of power struggle. In this connection, the national interests and security of a small state like Bangladesh is becoming vulnerable due to the volatility of the situation. More than 90 per cent of foreign trade is carried over through the sea routes (Siddique, 2015) Her economic security is mostly dependent on the uninterrupted supply of goods over the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal. The paper will suggest some policy options that will guard her national security before drawing conclusion
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