ABSTRACT
In view of the overwhelming strategic importance of the Indian Ocean, India is destined to remain at the centre of the power play in this critical oceanic space. India, Japan, Australia and some of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) nations have started to reorient their foreign policy strategies in response to this new situation with a view to maintaining peace and stability in the region. Japan joining hands with Australia is seen by China with suspicion. For India, the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) has emerged as a critical regional space and the coming together of India and Japan is a logical extension of their bonhomie as both unearth the untapped complementarities in the economic and strategic domains. Simultaneously, the Japan-Australia bonhomie is viewed positively in New Delhi. India has a responsibility of being a security provider in the IOR as well as the larger Indo-Pacific.
