It now appears that the world’s worst flashpoints have shifted from the western Pacific to the Indian Ocean. Conflict over the Iranian nuclear issue would not be a limited one and would drag in the entire Indian Ocean region. In turn, the Mauritius government would lease Diego Garcia back to the UK government for 99 years. Indian Ocean powers like India, Indonesia, and others need to take these developments seriously. Is it time India took the lead in building trans-Indian Ocean partnerships to proactively address these regional challenges?

Source: Indian Express February 28, 2026 07:26 UTC