Page 27 - Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) 2021

MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS (MDA)
IN THE NEW GLOBAL ORDER

The Indo-Pacific Region has become Underwater Domain Awareness
a critical strategic space in the new (UDA) Framework proposed by the
global order. More and more nations Maritime Research Centre (MRC),
are trying to maintain their strategic Pune encourages pooling of resources
presence in the region. The Indo- and synergizing of efforts across all the
Pacific is a maritime construct and four stakeholders - maritime security,
is spread across the tropical littoral blue economy, marine environment
waters of the Indian Ocean and & disaster management and science
the Pacific Ocean. The Indo-Pacific & technology. It focusses on the
presents very unique challenges critical aspects of policy & technology
and opportunities on all the three interventions as well as the acoustic
fronts, namely political, economic capacity & capability building. The
and from the strategic security SAGAR vision of the Honourable Prime
perspective. The Maritime Domain Minister is better served with effective
Awareness (MDA) is a term associate UDA framework on the ground. The
with enhanced understanding of the presentation will elaborate on the
underlying dynamics for effective local R&D requirements, academic
governance. However, the MDA programs, skilling requirements,
remained security driven post the innovation possibilities and the policy
9/11 incident globally and also in gaps. India has a good opportunity
India post the 26/11 incident. The of projecting itself as a knowledge
security driven formulation limits the and skill hub of the Indo-Pacific
participation of the other stakeholders Region. Focus on the acoustic capacity
and thus fails to be inclusive. The and capability with enhanced UDA
conventional MDA globally has framework will be a game changer for
remained on the surface of the ocean the Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative. The
and the underwater component has Indo part of the Indo-Pacific needs to
been a major cause of concern. The be appreciated in its strategic context.

3 September 2021 | Sapru House, New Delhi 27