Geo-Strategic Prospects of Gwadar Port: An Analysis of Protecting Sea Lanes of Indian Ocean

Abstract

The development of deep sea port, with all its associated projects, favorably influences the geo strategic prospects of Pakistan. The Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOC) connects the whole world and facilitates international trade. In peace times, these maritime routes function as key commercial trade routes and during war these routes turn out to be as strategic lines of communication between war zones. The prevailing strategic ambiguity in the surrounding regions has made the geo-politics of the Indian Ocean more dynamic and intricate among energy importing states as they are going through a critical security and political situation. Changing political dynamics of surrounding regions like prevailing security situation in the Persian Gulf, Iran-US tension over nuclear issue, conflict in Afghanistan, Indo-Pak different regional interests, China’s unprecedented economic growth and the US strategic tactics have made the geopolitics of Indian Ocean more dynamic and complicated. In this background, Sea lines used for global trade and energy transportation in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea are critical for littoral states due to their cumulative geo-economic and geo-political impact on the world political scenario. This research paper intends to establish that sea transportation acts as a catalyst for economic development of a Pakistan and geo-strategic significance of Gwadar port serves as n indispensable factor to give strategic depth to the Navy for surveillance activities to ensure maritime defense and safe flow of oil from the Persian Gulf to Chins via CPEC.