The curtain fell on the 11th edition of Raisina Dialogue 2026 in New Delhi today, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar stealing the show through his insights on India’s strategic positioning in the Indian Ocean. In a packed session, he articulated why India stands out as a natural convener for regional powers.
‘India has the ability to bring many countries to the table because we have good relations with them. They trust us more, or feel more comfortable with us—call it what you will,’ Jaishankar remarked. This trust manifests in real-time cooperation at the Information Fusion Centre in Gurugram, where multinational teams work seamlessly on shared threats.
Jaishankar detailed India’s institutional architecture, including the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IOR), Colombo Security Conclave, and BIMSTEC, which form pillars of regional stability. Though not part of groups like GCC, these efforts, alongside Pacific integrations, sketch a grand vision for Indo-Pacific security. On the bilateral front, partnerships with island nations like Seychelles, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka boast decades of joint exercises and shared assets.
Large multinational exercises further amplify this, with Australia as a pivotal ally. India’s maritime forces excel across the spectrum: from anti-piracy bases in Singapore to tackling narcotics, IUU fishing, HADR missions, and environmental disasters. Indian ships were the first responders in major oil spills off Sri Lanka and Mauritius, exemplifying practical solidarity.
In declaring India a ‘net security provider,’ Jaishankar not only reaffirmed New Delhi’s commitments but also signaled its readiness to shoulder greater responsibilities. This vision positions India as the linchpin for a cohesive, secure maritime domain amid rising geopolitical tensions.