PM Modi's Outreach Towards Indo-Pacific Islands Mustering A Sustainable Blue Economy

In the midst of rising non-conventional geopolitical impasse and great powers grappling with resource-based geopolitics, it has seemingly become imperative for middle powers such as India to foster sustainable livelihood for communities in SIDS countries of the South Pacific in order to achieve a balanced marine ecosystem.

- Vineet Malik

Challenges and Prospects

Observing recent regional dynamics, the South Pacific Island countries have drawn attention to contemporary discourse, making it a region filled with opportunities due to its rich cultural heritage, natural resources, marine reserves, and humongous exclusive economic zones (EEZs), ranging from Kiribati (3.55 million sq km) to Samoa (120,000 sq km).

Historically, the PIC countries were colonies where the population was involved in plantation work and agricultural activities. Post-independence from colonial rulers, these countries became victims of great power competition and economic dependency, where resources were exploited for industrial and geopolitical purposes, which has led to the reduction in natural resources and their over-usage.

Furthermore, contemporarily, multiple non-traditional security threats have accentuated developmental hazards in the fishery-cum-maritime economies. Natural disasters such as cyclones, droughts, and floods have exacerbated impacts on soil fertility and seawater quality due to sea salinization, acidification, and increased CO2 levels. Even the region has witnessed fishing malpractices, including the misuse of marine resources for extractive industrial activities, illegal fishing trade, IUU (illegal, unreported, and unregulated) fishing, and overfishing, which could prove catastrophic for marine habitat and diversity, where even losses worth USD $4.1 billion in PIC countries may be witnessed.

Thus, New Delhi’s increased involvement in the South Pacific Islands could be seen through PM Modi’s recent visits to Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands to further expand its presence among PIC countries through its Security and Growth For All initiative. This aims to deter any climatic lacunas impacting the maritime economy, which has also given an incentive towards forming a Forum of India-Pacific Islands Cooperation in 2014.