European fleets became a lasting feature of the Indian Ocean. Dutch, French, and British forces would follow the Portuguese into the same maritime system. Their presence made European political contests matter in India while Indian politics increasingly affected European decisions. The trade network connected the two political worlds as well as moving cargo between them.
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European fleets become part of Indian Ocean politics
Portugal's enduring presence opened a period in which Dutch, French, and British fleets also became participants in Indian Ocean trade and politics.