Sittwe port: A Triumph of
India’s maritime strategy
In April 2009, India and
Burma signed a framework agreement for a 120-million USD project on the Kaladan
River. This aimed to connect Sittwe with Mizoram, India, marking a significant
step in India’s geopolitical strategy.
On May 9, 2023, the first
Indian cargo ship reached the newly opened Sittwe Port in Myanmar’s Rakhine
State. The inauguration ceremony was attended by India’s Minister for Ports,
Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, along with Myanmar’s Deputy Prime
Minister and Union Minister for Transport and Communications, Tin Aung San.
The operationalization of the
Sittwe Port marks a significant milestone in India’s maritime strategy. It is
part of the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport project, aimed at unlocking
Northeast India’s access to Southeast Asia. The port’s opening is expected to
enhance bilateral and regional trade, contributing to the local economy of
Myanmar, and creating employment opportunities in the region. India has also
secured the authority to manage the Sittwe Port in Myanmar through India Ports
Global (IPGL), a joint venture between Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and
Deendayal Port Trust. This marks a significant advancement in regional power
play.
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| Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons, Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project |
This strategic integration
aims to connect Eastern and North-Eastern India via Myanmar, reducing
transportation costs and reliance on the Siliguri Corridor and Bangladesh. The
port’s strategic location on the Arakan coast of Myanmar’s Rakhine state makes
it a critical player in the dynamic geopolitics of the Indian Ocean Region,
influencing the diplomatic landscape between India and China. India’s success
in managing the Sittwe Port underscores the importance of international
partnerships in its maritime strategy, enhancing regional diplomacy and
promising significant economic benefits for the region.
💻 Table of Contents:
- Introduction and Significance of Kaladan Project
- India’s Strategic Autonomy: A Balancing Act in Global Affairs
- US-led Indo-Pacific Strategy Bolsters India’s Geopolitical Standing
- India-Japan Alliance: A Pillar of India’s Advancement in the Indo-Pacific Region
- China-Myanmar Railway Line: Implications for India
- India’s Strategic Dilemma in Myanmar
Introduction and Significance
of Kaladan Project:
The Kaladan Project is a
multi-modal transit transport initiative aimed at enhancing connectivity
between India and Myanmar. Launched in 1991, this US$484 million project
includes road and waterway components. It is a significant part of India’s Act
East Policy, emphasizing strategic and economic cooperation between the two
nations. New Delhi views this project as a crucial link connecting the isolated
northeastern region of India to the Indian Ocean, poised to catalyze economic
growth.
Significance of the Kaladan
Project:
Reduced Distance: The Kaladan
Project will significantly reduce the distance between Kolkata and Mizoram
compared to the existing land route through Bangladesh. By providing a shorter
and more efficient route, it will facilitate faster and cheaper transportation
of goods, thereby enhancing trade between the two countries.
Strategic Importance: Beyond
its economic benefits, the project holds immense strategic significance for
India. By providing an alternative route to India’s northeastern states, it
bypasses the narrow Siliguri Corridor, also known as the “Chicken’s
Neck.” This will ensure greater security and reliability in transportation
to and from the region.
Economic Development: The
Kaladan Project is expected to catalyze economic development in India’s
northeastern states by providing better access to international trade. By
improving connectivity, it will enable these states to integrate more
effectively into regional and global supply chains, fostering economic growth
and development.
The Kaladan Project, despite
facing delays due to various challenges such as the construction of
hydroelectric projects on the Kaladan River, the Rohingya crisis, and political
instability, remains a crucial initiative in India’s efforts to enhance
regional connectivity and foster economic development in its northeastern
region.
India’s Strategic Autonomy: A
Balancing Act in Global Affairs
India’s geopolitical strategy
is guided by its Strategic Autonomy doctrine in foreign policy. Under this
strategy, India has strengthened its nuclear weapons program and forged
military and economic relationships with powerful countries such as the United States
and Japan. This has led to India’s transformation from a struggling developing
nation to an emerging economy and a rising global power. India’s active
participation in key international groups like the Quad, BRICS, G20, and the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization reflects its expanding geopolitical influence
and its bid for permanent membership in the UN Security Council. Finally, India
also aspires to be a “balance shaper,” not a follower.
Favoring a multipolar
international order, India seeks a major role in shaping the global agenda. To
achieve this, India strives to build new, flexible partnerships and has focused
on a network of strategic partnerships characterized by defense cooperation
that encompasses arms transfers, military exercises, and intelligence sharing.
This approach aims to diminish India’s dependence on great powers and retain
its strategic autonomy.
US-led Indo-Pacific Strategy
Bolsters India’s Geopolitical Standing:
India’s Integration into the
US-led Indo-Pacific Strategy Strengthens Geopolitical Position, initiated by
the Biden administration in 2022, has not only enhanced regional security and
prosperity but has also significantly boosted India’s geopolitical standing.
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| Image Credit: picryl, President Biden launched the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework in Tokyo |
Under this strategy, the
United States has strengthened partnerships with key Indo-Pacific allies,
including Japan, Australia, ASEAN nations, and notably, India. The elevation of
the Quad (US, Australia, India, and Japan) to a leader-level summit has been a
major milestone, resulting in concrete outcomes such as vaccine distribution
and enhanced maritime security.
India’s active participation
in this strategic framework has further solidified its position in the
Indo-Pacific. President Biden’s focus on the region is evident from the fact
that three out of four official state visits he hosted were with leaders from
Indo-Pacific countries – South Korea, India, and Australia.
The establishment of the
historic AUKUS partnership between Australia, the UK, and the US underscores
the growing importance of the Indo-Pacific in global geopolitics. Moreover,
this strategy has facilitated closer ties between Europe and the Indo-Pacific,
recognizing the significant impact that challenges and opportunities in one
region have on the other.
India’s alignment with this
strategy has not only strengthened its regional influence but has also
reinforced its commitment to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. As the
region experiences heightened strategic competition, India’s active
participation in this strategy advances its interests and strengthens its
vision for the region.
The opening of the Sittwe
Port, as part of India’s maritime strategy, symbolizes India’s commitment to
enhancing regional connectivity and reducing reliance on traditional transit
routes, promising significant economic and geopolitical benefits for the
region.
India-Japan Alliance: A
Pillar of India’s Advancement in the Indo-Pacific Region
During his diplomatic visit
to East Asia, India’s Foreign Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, prioritized
strengthening security, economic cooperation, and political ties, visiting
South Korea and Japan from March 5th to 8th, 2024.
In Tokyo, Jaishankar held the
16th India-Japan strategic dialogue. The two countries agreed to expand
bilateral security cooperation, focusing on military equipment, technology
transfer, space research, and cybersecurity. This comes amidst growing concerns
about China’s assertive economic and military actions in the Indo-Pacific
region.
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The visit marked a
significant milestone in India-Japan relations, emphasizing a shared commitment
to peace, prosperity, and stability in the Indo-Pacific. They aim to invest
five trillion yen in Indian infrastructure, particularly in the
Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed railway. With India’s population of 1.4 billion, it
presents itself as a leading power among developing countries, advocating for
collective influence among nations of the Global South. Jaishankar’s meetings
in Japan underscored unequivocal support for the India-Japan alliance.
On February 20, 2024, Japan committed a loan of 232.209 billion yen (approximately Rs 12,800 crore) for
nine projects across various sectors in India, including the North East Road
Network Connectivity. The agreement, signed by Vikas Sheel, Additional
Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, and Suzuki Hiroshi, Ambassador of
Japan to India, highlights the long-standing bilateral development cooperation
between the two nations since 1958.
China-Myanmar Railway Line: Implications for India
China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co (CREEC) has started a survey for the Muse-Mandalay-Kyaukphyu railway, part of the China–Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
This proposed railway line, stretching from Kunming in China to two ports in Myanmar, is situated close to the India-funded Sittwe port. India is closely monitoring this development in light of its plans to connect corridors in the Bay of Bengal region as part of its Indo-Pacific strategy.
The China-Myanmar railway project could potentially pose challenges for India, altering the strategic landscape of the region. As China expands its infrastructure projects in Myanmar, India is assessing the implications this railway line could have on its own strategic interests and connectivity plans in the Indo-Pacific region.
India’s Strategic Dilemma in Myanmar:
India’s strategic engagement with Myanmar faces significant challenges due to the escalating conflict in the region, particularly in Rakhine State, where the Arakan Army (AA) has gained control over vital areas along the Kaladan Multi-modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP). The project, aimed at enhancing connectivity between India’s eastern coastline and its northeastern states through Myanmar, is crucial for India’s Act East Policy and regional integration efforts.
Despite the Arakan Army’s (AA) promises not to disrupt the Kaladan project, its control over vital areas poses a significant challenge for India. India must balance its relations with the Myanmar Junta and other factions to protect its strategic interests. With the political landscape in Myanmar rapidly changing and the Junta’s grip loosening due to intense conflicts with ethnic insurgent groups like the AA, India finds itself at a critical juncture.
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| Image Credit: Flickr, Cox’s Bazar, the world’s largest refugee settlement |
The shifting alliances and power structures within Myanmar necessitate a flexible and adaptive approach from India to protect its strategic interests while respecting Myanmar’s sovereignty. Additionally, with over 45,000 Myanmar nationals seeking refuge in Indian Border States, India faces the challenge of managing the refugee influx and ensuring regional stability, further complicating its strategic dilemma in Myanmar.
Conclusion:
India’s strategic maneuvers
in the Indo-Pacific, demonstrated through the operationalization of the Sittwe
Port in Myanmar and the advancement of the Kaladan Project, signify its
commitment to enhancing regional connectivity and reducing reliance on
traditional transit routes. The successful establishment of the Sittwe Port
stands as a triumph of India’s maritime strategy, strategically integrating the
Kaladan Project and underscoring its dedication to regional development and
connectivity.
Despite challenges posed by
China’s expanding influence, India’s Strategic Autonomy doctrine, evidenced by
its diverse international partnerships, positions it as a significant player in
shaping the global agenda. The long-standing alliance between India and Japan
serves as a pillar of India’s advancement in the Indo-Pacific, strengthening
security cooperation, enhancing economic ties, and fostering political
relations between the two nations. This alliance significantly benefits India’s
geopolitical position in the Southeast Asian region.
