It accounts for 20 percent of global sea trade - and a much higher proportion of energy and container shipments. The region is seen as becoming increasingly importa nt. “But if you’re looking forward over the next few decades, there is no doubt Asian navies will have a larger presence in the Indian Ocean relative to Western forces. “These are still relatively smaller forces,” said Christian la Miere, naval expert at London’s International Institute for Strategic Studies. While piracy - which has redrawn shipping routes and driven up insurance costs - is seen the main driver, all are seen also wanting to stake a claim to increasingly important sea lanes.Ĭertainly, the build-up says much about the way some powers are taking a more muscular role in world affairs.īut none of the relatively new entrants yet comes close to challenging the regional military dominance of the United States, which usually has at least one aircraft carrier in the area with enough firepower to sink almost all the other navies.
While U.S., NATO and European Union forces make up the majority, the last two years have seen a growing presence from China, Russia, India, Japan, South Korea and others. Navy estimates that on any given day as many as 30 to 40 warships are engaged in operations to keep shipping safe from young Somalis in skiffs with AK-47s and ladders. The Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force ship Sazanami (foreground) is pictured patrolling off the coast of Somalia on March 30 in this handout photo distributed by the Japanese Defense Ministry on March 31, 2009.