Abstract
The thesis of this paper is that maritime security, or at least the ‘opposition’ of sea and land power, is one of the key defining attributes of the international system today – and particularly so in the Indian Ocean Region. The paper discusses the nature and interaction of two of the most important trends that are being played out as a competitive process in the region. The first is the ongoing aim of the United States and its allies to maintain and strengthen their Indian Ocean presence and influence in order to achieve certain key strategic objectives. The second represents the aims of China, Iran, Pakistan and Russia to strengthen their own regional maritime security by enhancing their capacity to counteract any threats from the US-led coalition.
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