Introduction The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) has emerged has one of the most strategically contested maritime spaces of the 21st Century, hosting critical sea lines of communication (SLOCs), vital chokepoints and resource-rich littoral zones. As global geopolitical competition intensifies, particularly between the United States and China, the IOR’s strategic relevance has increased exponentially. For India, which occupies a central geographic position astride these SLOCs, maritime security is not merely a peripheral concern but a core national interest. In this evolving landscape, India’s vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015, serves as a guiding framework for its maritime engagement....