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India's Naval Rise: How It's Sharing the Maritime Burden Amid China's Buildup

Dhruva Jaishankar explained how India is actively contributing to maritime security in the Indo-Pacific. He pointed to China's massive naval modernization and the tragic 2020 border clash as catalysts for this shift. Another expert, Sameer Lalwani, added that India's old reliance on Russia is fading, especially in cutting-edge technology. However, both experts suggest that turning ambitious US-India agreements into reality remains a key challenge.

Key Points: Dhruva Jaishankar Says India Steps Up Naval Patrols in Indo-Pacific

  • Dhruva Jaishankar highlighted India's increased naval patrols for regional burden sharing
  • He cited the 2020 Galwan clash where 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives
  • China's dual-use port network and naval buildup were identified as key challenges
  • Sameer Lalwani noted India's shrinking defense dependence on Russia for future tech
3 min read

India contributed to maritime burden sharing in Indian Ocean and Pacific, says Dhruva Jaishankar

ORF America's Dhruva Jaishankar details India-US strategic cooperation and India's increased naval role in the Indo-Pacific, countering China's expansion.

"The Indian Navy, as a result, has stepped up patrols and contributed to maritime burden sharing in the Indian Ocean and Pacific. - Dhruva Jaishankar"

Washington DC, December 11

Speaking at the House Foreign Affairs South and Central Asia Subcommittee's hearing titled, 'The US-India Strategic Partnership: Securing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific', Executive Director of the Observer Research Foundation America, Dhruva Jaishankar said that India-US cooperation is seen when Indian Navy stepped up patrols and contributed to maritime burden sharing in the Indian Ocean and Pacific.

He said, "In recent years, China has expanded and modernised its nuclear arsenal, undertaken one of the largest naval buildups in its history, and unveiled new unmanned and cyber systems."

Dhruva recalled that in 2020, Chinese escalations resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian military forces.

"In 2020, a major mobilisation by the PLA resulted in clashes in which 20 Indian military personnel lost their lives. China has also developed a network of potentially dual-use ports across the Indo-Pacific and beyond that might be used to secure critical choke points. The Indian Navy, as a result, has stepped up patrols and contributed to maritime burden sharing in the Indian Ocean and Pacific," he said.

"Both the United States and India also have enormous trade deficits with China... China's rare earth export restrictions have reinforced concerns about supply chain concentration as a source of leverage over competitors. Another area of strategic convergence between the United States and India has involved stabilising the Middle East," he added.

External Senior Advisor, Special Competitive Studies Project Senior Fellow, Indo-Pacific Program, German Marshall Fund of the United States, Sameer Lalwani, said that for India and China, fears of a diplomatic thaw is far stretched.

He said, "Every relationship has its challenges, but some run deeper than others. On the India-China relationship, fears of a recent diplomatic thaw are overstated. Border disputes, strategic rivalry, and Beijing's coercive economic behaviour will ensure that the relationship stays adversarial."

Lalwani said that India's dependence on Russia is shrinking.

"India's legacy dependence on Russia for defence equipment and energy is real, but also steadily shrinking. Russia, unlike the United States, plays little role in India's technologies of the future, like AI, quantum, and biotech. Recent trade frictions with the United States and tariff escalations have catalysed some concerns in India and risk eroding some trust. While a major trade agreement can unlock significant gains, we still need to rebuild that confidence in US reliability. But perhaps the biggest challenge we face right now is a say-do gap. Implementation has not always matched ambition. Slow progress on major initiatives, such as the Jet Engine Co-production agreement, can dilute strategic benefits and weaken deterrence. Closing this gap requires investment of sustained resources, focus, and leadership," he said.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good to see India taking a leadership role in maritime security. The Indo-Pacific is crucial for global trade, and burden-sharing with the US makes sense. However, we must ensure this doesn't mean blindly following American strategy. Our foreign policy should remain independent.
V
Vikram M
The point about the "say-do gap" is spot on. We hear so much about strategic partnerships and agreements, but where is the actual implementation? The Jet Engine deal has been talked about for years. Action matters more than words.
S
Sarah B
As someone observing from outside, it's clear India is a key player in balancing power in the region. The reduction in dependence on Russia is a significant strategic shift that benefits the US-India relationship in the long term.
R
Rohit P
China's port network is a real concern. They are building strategic assets all around us. Our Navy stepping up is the right response. Jai Hind!
K
Karthik V
The trade friction with the US is worrying. We want a partnership, but not at the cost of our own economic interests. The US needs to be a reliable partner, not just use India as a counterweight to China. Trust has to be a two-way street.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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