India as an Indian Ocean naval power

What is important about naval diplomacy in the Indian Ocean?

India is a credible regional naval power, and its growing friction with China makes Indian Ocean presence and signalling strategically important.

The Indian Ocean offers a particularly rich setting for naval diplomacy because India is a serious regional maritime power. Indian sea power is already credible enough to shape the choices of other regional actors. Increasing tension with China makes presence and signalling especially relevant. Carrier development, access, and routine deployments can communicate resolve without beginning a war.