ABSTRACT The Indo-Pacific has become a focal point for competing narratives among major powers, often centred on traditional, militarized concerns. In contrast, island states in the region—represented through the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)— emphasise that geopolitics is not their primary concern, instead articulating human-centred priorities. Given the limited scholarly attention to these organisations, particularly the IOC, this article examines the narratives they construct within the Indo-Pacific seascape. Drawing on Entman's (1993. Framing: Toward clarification of a fractured paradigm. Journal of Communication, 43(4), 51–58) framing theory and strategic narrative scholarship developed by Miskimmon et al. (2017. Strategic narratives: communication power and the new world order. Routledge) and Blas (2023. Beyond storytelling. Æther: A Journal of Strategic Airpower & Spacepower, 2(1), 46–57), the article analyses speeches, declarations, reports, and visual media, demonstrating that militarized narratives are not universally accepted.

ABSTRACT With the global geopolitical shift from the West to Asia, the ‘Indo-Pacific’ has risen as the dominant geopolitical framework, taking over from the ‘Asia-Pacific’ construct. The uncertain nature of regional power transitions and the escalating US–China rivalry have become focal points for scholars due to their potential impact on the international order. However, the Indo-Pacific is also shaped by ‘middle powers’ – significant regional actors that, despite ranking below great powers, possess the capability to influence global affairs. Faced with escalating US–China competition, middle powers have adapted by forming ‘minilateral’ groupings – smaller, more flexible coalitions focused on specific areas of cooperation. India, seeking to maintain and enhance its strategic autonomy, has actively engaged in these efforts. This article investigates India’s strategy of building such coalitions, termed ‘Middle Power Minilateralism,’ and evaluates their effectiveness within the Indo-Pacific landscape.

ABSTRACT The Indo-Pacific region, a hub of maritime trade and economic opportunities, often overlooks the hidden narrative of the women of East African littorals. These women, who make up half of the workforce in marine and coastal industries, face unjust compensation and lack job security. Despite their crucial role in driving economic growth, their voices are silenced, perpetuating gender disparities and impeding inclusive development. This paper employs exploratory research for the visibility and empowerment of these women, aiming to unleash their potential as catalysts for peace and prosperity in the region as urged in the UNSC Resolution 1325. It also highlights the benefits of investing in women for families, communities, and nations. The paper suggests integrating these women into maritime networks through targeted policies and inclusive initiatives, fostering collaboration and unlocking new growth opportunities in terms of blue economy and economic liberalization. By highlighting the overlooked narratives of East African women, this paper contributes to a more inclusive and fair vision for the Indo-Pacific, where diversity is celebrated and every voice is valued.

ABSTRACT Since 1991, India has been interested in extending its influence into the Indo-Pacific region. While the US has proposed an Indo-Pacific strategic alliance with the intent to contain China both economically and militarily, India does not share the same intent. Despite having border disputes and economic competition with China, India wants to approach these disputes bilaterally, firmly believing in the emergence of a multipolar world order. India has viewed its similar engagement with the multipolar world through the prism of strategic autonomy. This is in continuation and in congruence with India’s apprehension of South Asia being used by the US as a backyard for its China containment policy. This article will explore the themes of non-alignment and strategic autonomy in India’s foreign policy, India’s role in the Indo-Pacific strategy, and the South Asian question in the above context.

ABSTRACT The Indo-Pacific has emerged as a key geopolitical and economic construct, primarily shaped by developed maritime nations with strategic interests in regional security and trade. The African States of the Indian Ocean Region have only recently begun engaging with this evolving framework, particularly following the adoption of the Indian Ocean Rim Association’s (IORA) Indo-Pacific Outlook. Strengthening scientific collaboration to understand metocean connectivity between the Indian and Pacific Oceans is critical as this influences African climate variability, marine ecosystems, and societal and economic stability. Partnerships with Pacific Island States through IORA presents opportunities for co-learning in marine science, technology, innovation and policy development. Alignment between Africa's Blue Economy Strategy, the IORA Indo-Pacific Outlook and the Pacific Islands States 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, offer African and Pacific Island States elements of a cohesive framework for cooperation. Through enhanced collaboration, African States can advance ocean governance, address shared challenges, and build resilient and sustainable ocean economies.

ABSTRACT As China–India maritime competition in the Indian Ocean intensifies, India’s maritime diplomacy toward small island developing states (SIDS) like Mauritius and the Maldives has become increasingly important. While Mauritius has broadly welcomed Indian regional leadership, however, the Maldives has rejected it. Why? Challenging neorealist accounts that view alignment choices as shaped by the power imbalances inherent to international anarchy, we argue that foreign policy decisions are inherently shaped by domestic political dynamics and elite preferences in both countries. In Mauritius, historical linkages and demographic ties have fostered consistent elite support for India. In the Maldives, conversely, elite factions have capitalized on anti-India sentiments to bolster policy autonomy vis-à-vis India and access Chinese capital for domestic development projects. The analysis ultimately highlights the agency of smaller states while demonstrating the need to analyse how domestic actors and processes shape decision-making processes in small states in the Indo-Pacific.

ABSTRACT The sea embodies meaning, healing, and identity, expressed through interactions and customs closely intertwined with cultural heritage. As noted, there are three perspectives through which health is related to heritage. However, the complexity of cultural ocean interactions is absent in current ocean accounts frameworks. We posit that well-being is not linear but sensory, complex, and intricate. By considering a cultural metric in an ocean accounts framework, we can see that there is a potential to revalorise intangible cultural knowledge for ocean sustainability. Data was collected along the coast from Knysna to Port Alfred. The research found participants re-evaluating their watery existence from livelihoods, culturally inscribed behaviours and healing. We recommend considering these viewpoints and cultural beliefs of the sea as crucial for the blue economy agenda, ocean accounting and management. Moving away from one-size-fits-all approaches for human-nature relationships, a cultural metric approach considers sustainability for overall well-being.

ABSTRACT In recent years, European interest in the Indo-Pacific has surged, including a desire to contribute to Indian Ocean security. However, resources to commit outside their neighborhood, especially against the backdrop of an ongoing conflict on the European continent, has not grown proportionately, leaving such strategic ambitions unfulfilled. This paper argues that Australia can creatively leverage the expertise, reputation and limited available resources of its European partners to maximize collective impact in the Indian Ocean. Stakeholder interviews and case study analysis of French, British, and EU approaches to Indian Ocean security suggest a rationale for partnership with Australia on tangible initiatives. In particular, non-traditional security is the approach most consistent with available resources, India's comfort level, and the demands of smaller Indian Ocean states.

ABSTRACT The Mauritian archipelago has been closely associated with the Indian subcontinent for ages through its cultural, trade, and investment linkages. India is the sixth largest investor in this Small Island Developing State of the Indian Ocean Region. However, the majority of the Indian companies do not have any manufacturing or trading set up in Mauritius; instead, they operate in the form of Global Business Companies formed as tax residents. The study explores the impact of Indian direct investment in Mauritius by qualitatively analyzing twelve companies operating primarily in the services sector. Such investments facilitate the attainment of economic and social prosperity through technology transfer and knowledge spillover, thereby supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Mauritius. Nonetheless, the neglect of the SDGs on climate actions, life below water, and life on land suggest an imbalance as to how investments from India address the environmental aspects of sustainable development.

ABSTRACT After years of slow, incremental developments, progress on the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and Chabahar port appeares to have gained momentum – which is further mirrored in the growth of academic scholarship on this topic. This article conducts a systematic literature and bibliometric analysis of 177 scholarly articles on INSTC and Chabahar port. It examines factors such as major themes and keywords, journals of publication, and author profiles, including their nationalities and affiliated organizations. The key findings of the study identify four stages pertaining to the historical and contemporary development of academic research on the topic. On a broader level, it addresses the projects’ impact on both economic corridors and transnational governance. The article highlights the integral roles that Sino-Indian competition, Indo-Iranian cooperation, and Russia’s growing involvement following the 2022 Ukraine conflict have played in the development. The article concludes by summarizing the key observations and offers suggestions for future scholarship.