Experts examine strategic challenges in the Indian Ocean region

• BY India News Newsdesk
• June 15, 2026
• 0 COMMENTS

Perth, June 2 (Australia India News Newsdesk)

The Consul General, Kajari Biswas, participated in a panel discussion on security in the Indian Ocean hosted by the Australia Institute of International Affairs and the Indo-Pacific Research Centre (IPRC) at Murdoch University.

The event brought together prominent strategic thinkers and researchers to explore the evolving geopolitical dynamics of the Indian Ocean and their implications for regional stability, economic prosperity and international cooperation.

The distinguished panel included Dr Frédéric Grare, Senior Research Fellow at the ANU National Security College; Associate Professor Mary Anne Kenny, Principal Fellow at the Indo-Pacific Research Centre; Dr Troy Lee-Brown, Research Fellow at the UWA Defence and Security Institute; and Anubhav Shankar Goswami, Doctoral Candidate at the Indo-Pacific Research Centre.

Speakers examined a range of contemporary security issues affecting the region, including maritime governance, strategic competition among major powers, regional partnerships and emerging security challenges in the broader Indo-Pacific.

The discussion highlighted the Indian Ocean’s growing importance as one of the world’s most significant maritime regions, carrying a substantial share of global trade and energy flows while linking major economies across Asia, Africa and Australia.

Panel members also reflected on the need for greater cooperation among regional stakeholders to safeguard freedom of navigation, strengthen maritime security and address common challenges through dialogue and collaboration.

The event attracted academics, policymakers, students and members of the wider community interested in strategic affairs and developments shaping the future of the Indo-Pacific.

The Consul General welcomed the opportunity to engage with leading experts and exchange perspectives on issues that continue to influence the security architecture of the Indian Ocean region.

The discussion reinforced the value of academic research and informed public dialogue in promoting a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing one of the world’s most strategically important maritime domains.