Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi during his address at IPRD 2025. (Photo: Indian Navy)
New Delhi: The chief of the naval staff, Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, has cautioned that maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region faces a “dynamic challenge” requiring collective action, as global seaborne trade growth is projected to stall amid commercial disruptions and geopolitical tensions. Addressing delegates from over 30 countries at the 11th edition of the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) on Tuesday, Adm Tripathi highlighted three critical trends reshaping maritime security: commercial disruption, geopolitical competition, and environmental degradation.
“Global seaborne trade is showing signs of stress and conflict,” Tripathi said, citing recent catastrophic incidents. “According to industry reports, global seaborne trade growth is projected to stall to 0.5 per cent in 2025 from a sharp drop from 2.2 per cent in 2024.”
The admiral emphasized that such contraction signals strategic fragility, affecting nations dependent on maritime trade routes for economic sustenance.
Geopolitical rivalries threaten stability
On the geopolitical front, Adm Tripathi warned that the Indo-Pacific has become a theatre of intensifying great power competition, with naval build-ups and technological advancements creating an unstable security environment.
“Military doctrines are evolving rapidly, and technology is changing the character of conflict itself,” he said. “The risk is not just armed confrontation but the erosion of established norms and the militarization of contested spaces.”
The naval chief also drew attention to the third challenge: environmental stress. Rising sea levels, resource depletion, and climate-induced migration are creating new vulnerabilities that traditional security frameworks are ill-equipped to address, he said.
Oceans as shared heritage
Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assertion that “oceans are a shared heritage for nations and societies, as well as the lifeline for international trade”, Tripathi stressed that the prosperity of nations and peace on seas are inseparable.
“Reflecting this sentiment, our honourable prime minister stated that ‘oceans are a shared heritage for nations and societies, as well as the lifeline for international trade. Today, the security and prosperity of nations are intimately connected to oceans’,” he said.
The admiral invoked Professor Barry Buzan’s concept of the “Dynamic Challenge” – a threat that is simultaneously dynamic and complex, requiring adaptive rather than static responses.
About IPRD
The Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue, hosted annually by India’s National Maritime Foundation, serves as a key platform for strategic discussions on maritime security, blue economy, and regional cooperation. Launched in 2018, the forum brings together naval chiefs, defence officials, and strategic experts from countries across the Indo-Pacific to foster dialogue on shared maritime interests.
The event has gained significance as the Indo-Pacific region, which accounts for approximately 60 per cent of global maritime trade, faces increasing security challenges including territorial disputes in the South China Sea, freedom of navigation concerns, and the growing naval presence of major powers.
This year’s dialogue comes at a time when attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and increased military activities in contested waters have raised concerns about the security of vital sea lanes connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe.
The participation of over 30 countries at this year’s dialogue underscores the growing recognition of maritime security as a critical component of regional stability and economic prosperity.
Adm Tripathi’s remarks reflect India’s expanding role in Indo-Pacific security architecture, as New Delhi positions itself as a net security provider in the region while maintaining strategic autonomy in its international engagements.
