India Eyes Guarding Malacca Strait After Singapore's Nod. What's This Key Sea Lane About?

Last Updated:September 05, 2025, 21:15 IST

The development marks a turning point in India’s maritime diplomacy and is likely to expand New Delhi’s influence across the Indo-Pacific

An armed marine policeman standing guard on the deck of his patrol boat while patrolling past a tanker in the Malacca Strait. (AFP file photo)

India has taken a major step in strengthening its maritime presence in Southeast Asia. On Thursday, Singapore officially acknowledged and welcomed India’s interest in joining patrols in the Malacca Strait, one of the world’s busiest and most strategic shipping lanes.

The development marks a turning point in India’s maritime diplomacy and is likely to expand New Delhi’s influence across the Indo-Pacific.

Singapore Backs India’s Role

Following talks in New Delhi between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong, a joint statement was released that highlighted multiple areas of collaboration, including maritime security. “Singapore acknowledges with appreciation India’s interest in the Malacca Straits Patrol," the statement noted.

India’s interest in joining the Malacca Straits Patrol (MSP) has long been viewed through a strategic lens, and Singapore’s public support now opens the door to deeper cooperation with other littoral states involved in the patrol, namely Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.

At a media briefing, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, P. Kumaran, said India is already in talks to participate formally in joint patrols. Given the proximity of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands to the Strait, Indian Navy vessels already operate in the region, and formal inclusion in the MSP would align India’s efforts with those of regional partners.

Why The Malacca Strait Matters

The Strait of Malacca is a narrow stretch of sea that connects the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean) with the South China Sea (Pacific Ocean). It is a vital passage for global shipping:

• About 40–50% of global trade by tonnage passes through this corridor.
• Nearly 70% of Asia’s oil imports transit the strait.
• For China, it is a key route for energy imports from the Middle East and Africa.

Because of this, the Strait has long been considered a geostrategic chokepoint. In the event of any conflict, countries like China worry that the Strait could be blocked by the Indian or US Navy, cutting off vital supplies.

India’s Strategic Interest

For India, the Strait is not just important for global positioning—it’s vital for its own economic and energy security. Approximately:

• 60% of India’s sea-based trade, and
• Almost 100% of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports pass through the Malacca Strait.

The Indian Navy already maintains a strong presence in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, just 600 km from the Strait. However, Indian ships currently operate separately from the MSP framework.

Indian officials argue that, as a contiguous user state, India’s involvement is both natural and beneficial to the region. This also ties into India’s ‘Act East’ policy and broader ambitions of being a net security provider in the Indo-Pacific.

Broader Strategic Roadmap

Beyond maritime patrols, PM Modi and his Singaporean counterpart also agreed to deepen cooperation across several key sectors. The two countries signed a total of five agreements covering areas such as aviation and air connectivity, skill development, green and digital shipping, space technology, and digital asset innovation, including fintech infrastructure.

Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening economic ties and navigating global trade disruptions together. This includes tackling challenges posed by changing global supply chains, protectionism, and the rising tensions between major powers like the US and China.

The two sides also agreed to expand defence technology cooperation in emerging domains such as quantum computing, automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and unmanned vessels.

(With inputs from agencies)

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News explainers India Eyes Guarding Malacca Strait After Singapore's Nod. What's This Key Sea Lane About?

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