Emerging Non-Traditional Challenges in the Indian Ocean Region

The Indian Ocean Region has evolved into a global commercial and energy corridor. India holds a central position in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the importance of the Indian Ocean to the maritime security of the nation is hardly to be emphasised. Non-traditional challenges, such as piracy, terrorism, drug and arms trafficking, and natural catastrophes, are cross-border challenges that impact most of the countries which are either situated in the region, utilise the Indian Ocean as a transit route for their marine commerce, or have a strategic presence there.