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MARITIME DOCTRINE OF SRI LANKA
states as they require for their unhindered presence in the region. US
will form coalitions with regional powers whose interests are, preferably,
aligned with its own but generally not opposed to them.
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Japan also has recently begun to play a more proactive and assertive
role in the IOR with visits by its naval fleet and participation in naval
exercises/dialogues with countries in the IOR. Due to China’s expanding
presence in the region, the security situation in the Indian Ocean has
always been concern for Japan .

Maritime Threats in IOR
The world economies, which are interconnected and interdependent
through the sea routes, has been the driving factor in this pivotal
process and the geo-political view of the affairs of the ocean has become
significant. However, securing these SLOC from various threats possess
a challenge, as non-traditional threats are developing the tension in the
IOR.

It has been argued that the Indian Ocean is fast becoming a nuclear
ocean. Initially, IOR is regarded as a ‘Zone of Peace’. However, with the
development of nuclear power by littoral countries of IOR, this concept
has changed. Further, extra regional nuclear powers also are present in
the IOR and hence has become a highly congested nuclear ocean.

While traditional threats confines to conventional forms, non-traditional
threats prevail developing the tension in the IOR. The non-traditional
challenges continue to confront the world maritime domain and joint
efforts are taken globally. Countering piracy off East Africa and West
Arabian Sea, and cooperate sea patrols in the Strait of Malacca are good
examples for successful cooperative efforts. However, there are still
gaps for effective security mechanism, allowing non-traditional threats
to grow unchecked and demanding more effective cooperate solutions.

Environmental Security

Environmental security in IOR is of paramount importance in the present
day context. The serious effects of climatic change, environmental

54 To Nurture a Stable Environment at Sea