Approach:

Introduction: Provide an overview of India's historical and current relations with the Pacific Island countries

Body: Analyse the factors influencing India's strategic interests and development assistance in the Pacific region. Evaluate how India balances her strategic interests and development assistance in the Pacific region

Conclusion: Conclude with recommendations for future policy directions.

Answer:

India's relations with the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) have evolved from historical and cultural ties to strategic and developmental partnerships. India established the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) in 2014 as a part of India’s Act East Policy and has held three summits with the Pacific Island countries since then, the latest one being in Papua New Guinea.

India considers the Pacific Island countries "large ocean countries and not small island states" and supports a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

Six main factors affect India's strategic interests and development assistance in the Pacific region:

• Geography: India is located at the centre of the Indian Ocean, which connects it to the Pacific Ocean through various maritime routes and chokepoints.
  • India also has historical and cultural ties with many island nations in the Pacific, such as Fiji, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Maldives, which are part of its extended neighbourhood.
• Security: India faces multiple security challenges in the Indo-Pacific, ranging from
  • traditional threats such as piracy, terrorism, a rising and assertive China and maritime disputes
  • non-traditional threats such as climate change, natural disasters, and pandemics.
• Economy: India's need for trade, investment, energy, connectivity, and development drives its economic interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • India is one of the largest trading partners in the region, with a total trade volume of over $200 billion in 2019–20.
  • India is also a major source of remittances from its diaspora in countries such as Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore.
  • India seeks to diversify its energy sources and routes by tapping into the hydrocarbon potential of the Indian Ocean and exploring renewable energy options in the Pacific islands.

 How India balances its interests and assistance in the region:

• India views the Pacific region as an integral part of the Indo-Pacific, a concept that emphasises the interconnectedness and interdependence of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
  • India has been participating in the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) since 2014, a platform that brings together leaders and officials from India and 14 PICs to discuss various issues of mutual interest and cooperation.
• India's development assistance to the PICs covers healthcare, renewable energy, information technology, cybersecurity, disaster management, education, culture and capacity building.
  • Some of the key initiatives announced by the PM at the FIPIC summit include establishing a super-speciality cardiology hospital in Fiji, providing sea ambulances and dialysis units to all PICs, etc
  • India also aims to enhance its connectivity with the region through initiatives such as the Asia-Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC), the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), and the Sagarmala project.
  • India provides security assistance to smaller island states in the Pacific through capacity-building, training, joint patrols, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations..
• India also seeks to enhance its strategic presence and partnerships in the Pacific region, especially in the context of the growing influence and assertiveness of China. India supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the PICs and opposes any unilateral or coercive actions that undermine their interests.
• India's diplomatic engagement with the Indo-Pacific is based on its vision of a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based region that respects all nations' sovereignty and territorial integrity.
  • India participates actively in various regional forums such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the East Asia Summit (EAS), etc.
  • India also maintains close bilateral relations with key countries in the region, such as Australia, France, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam.

India and Pacific Ocean nations should cooperate more closely on issues such as maritime security, climate change, trade, and development. India can play a leading role in the Indo-Pacific region by enhancing its diplomatic, economic, and military engagement with its partners. Pacific Ocean nations can benefit from India's support in addressing their challenges and aspirations. A more inclusive and balanced approach to regional cooperation would foster peace, stability, and prosperity for all.