Claiming the Deep: Why India’s Quiet Ocean Grab Could Redefine the Indian Ocean Order

India's Ocean Frontier: Asserting Depth, Power, and Purpose in the Arabian Sea

India’s recent expansion of its continental shelf claim by 10,000 square kilometers in the Central Arabian Sea may seem like a technical maneuver to the untrained eye. But behind the charts and maritime law lies a much deeper narrative—one of strategy, sovereignty, and shifting global power dynamics. While the move has been carefully crafted within the bounds of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), it is unmistakably bold in its long-term implications. India is not just claiming the sea floor; it is claiming its place in the future of ocean governance and Indo-Pacific security.

India Ocean Claim Signals a Strategic Turn Below the Surface

A Calculated, Scientific Expansion

India’s submission to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) in 2025 follows more than a decade of geological and geophysical research. By proving that the seabed in the Arabian Sea is a natural extension of its continental margin, India is asserting legal rights to explore and exploit resources on the seabed—well beyond its 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

But it’s not just science—it’s strategy. Unlike previous submissions, this one cleverly avoids contested areas like Sir Creek, where maritime boundaries with Pakistan remain unresolved. India has learned from past frictions and now positions itself as both assertive and measured in its maritime claims.

The Geopolitics of the Seafloor

This seabed isn’t empty. It holds vast economic and strategic value. By expanding its legal seabed jurisdiction, India is laying claim to potential reserves of oil, natural gas, and critical minerals like cobalt and nickel—resources that will be vital in an energy-hungry and tech-driven future. Moreover, controlling undersea terrain can support military surveillance systems, naval logistics, and cyber infrastructure like undersea data cables.

In an era where information travels through oceans and energy flows from its depths, control over the seabed is control over the future.

Redrawing the Map of Influence in the Indian Ocean

Rising to the China Challenge

India’s move must also be seen in the context of China’s rising presence in the Indian Ocean. With Beijing establishing ports, logistics hubs, and maritime influence under its "String of Pearls" strategy, India is signaling that it won’t be left behind.

By extending its seabed claim, India sends a message: the Indian Ocean is not for sale, nor is it open for encroachment. This expansion supports India’s larger Indo-Pacific strategy, which promotes freedom of navigation, multilateral cooperation, and balance of power—values increasingly under pressure from authoritarian maritime tactics.

Pakistan's Predictable Protest and India’s Diplomatic Agility

As expected, Pakistan has raised objections—especially given the history of dispute around the Sir Creek region. But India has preempted this by adjusting its claim to bypass sensitive areas. Instead of confrontation, India is leaning on diplomacy, legal expertise, and international norms.

This demonstrates a mature approach: avoid unnecessary flashpoints while steadily advancing national interests. It’s a balancing act between assertion and restraint—and India appears to be walking it well.

The Underwater Economy: How Seabed Rights Could Power India’s Growth

Energy and Strategic Minerals: Digging into the Future

India’s import dependence on fossil fuels and rare earth elements has long been a vulnerability. The seabed of the Central Arabian Sea is believed to hold polymetallic nodules rich in manganese, cobalt, and nickel—essential for batteries, semiconductors, and renewable energy systems.

By expanding its claim, India secures a long-term hedge against supply chain disruptions and volatile global markets. The deep ocean could become the country’s next energy and technology frontier.

Marine Livelihoods and the Blue Economy Boom

Beyond the minerals and fuels lies another layer of opportunity: fisheries, eco-tourism, marine biotechnology, and underwater infrastructure. With the blue economy expected to contribute

significantly to GDP in the coming decades, India’s expanded control allows it to build a sustainable, diversified marine economy that benefits coastal communities and reduces land-based resource strain.

Sustainability and Responsibility in Deep-Sea Governance

Exploitation vs. Stewardship: A Delicate Balance

There’s no question that deep-sea mining and offshore drilling carry environmental risks. The abyssal plains of the ocean are home to fragile ecosystems that science is only beginning to understand. With rights come responsibilities—and if India wants to be taken seriously as a maritime leader, it must prioritize ocean health alongside economic gain.

Transparent impact assessments, global research partnerships, and strict environmental norms should be at the heart of India’s seabed strategy.

Climate Change: The Ocean’s Silent Crisis

Rising sea levels, warming waters, and shifting ocean currents are not abstract threats—they are already affecting India’s coasts and fisheries. Maritime expansion plans must integrate climate resilience, from infrastructure design to ocean-based carbon sequestration. India’s future security, economic and ecological, depends on the health of its surrounding seas.

Conclusion: India’s Maritime Moment Has Arrived

India’s 10,000 sq km claim in the Central Arabian Sea is more than a legal application—it is a strategic, economic, and symbolic act. It marks India’s awakening to its maritime identity and potential. At a time when global powers are looking seaward for dominance and development, India’s quiet assertion of seabed rights signals confidence, competence, and ambition.

Whether it’s securing vital resources, asserting regional leadership, or promoting a rules-based ocean order, India’s move shows foresight. The world may not be watching closely now, but when the future of power lies beneath the waves, India will already be there—anchored in law, driven by strategy, and committed to shaping the depths it now claims.