Great power relations in the Indian Ocean

As tensions increase in the South and East China Seas, Dhruva Jaishankar of Brookings India talks to Dr David Brewster from the ANU National Security College about how these issues may play out in the neighbouring Indian Ocean. Mr Jaishankar describes the weakness of the security architecture in that body of water, Indian perspectives and the contemporary inextricability of economic and strategic concerns for all the powers involved. They discuss the possible approach of the Trump Administration towards India and the critical trade routes criss-crossing its ocean, as well as opportunities for multilateral cooperation to improve security in the region. This interview was recorded on the sidelines of ‘Strengthening Australia-Japan-US Strategic Cooperation: Prospects and Challenges’, a conference hosted by the ANU National Security College as part of a wider project of research and events in partnership with the Embassy of Japan. Strengthening Australia-Japan-US Strategic Cooperation: Prospects and Challenges was held at the Australian National University on 30 January 2017. The conference focused on the challenges and opportunities facing two key Indo-Pacific alliances: the US-Australia and US-Japan strategic relationships; regional security challenges for the alliances, including the South China Sea; opportunities to deepen the Australia-Japan strategic partnership; and how Australia, Japan and the United States can work with other regional security players.