By Sanat Valecha '16On March 10^th, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a three-nation tour in the Indian Ocean to reinvigorate relations and establish cooperation in the defense and economic spheres. In a five-day visit to the Seychelles, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Modi aims to shore up ties in the Indian Ocean region, an area long considered India’s background. This area is also considered to be waning in terms of India’s authoritative control as Delhi’s authority has seen challenges in recent years, particularly from China. The visit indicates India’s desire to increase its influence over a strategic maritime route, while renewing its commitment to the ocean countries’ economies and security.Modi’s trip comes against the backdrop of China’s increased focus on the Indian Ocean region. China has built highways, seaports, and power plants in the small island nations Modi plans to visit and there are various other developments either agreed upon or in progress. In 2012 for example, the Seychelles offered China space for a relief and resupply naval base, signaling a shift in the balance of power in the region, where India had traditionally been the main provider of defense. More recently, China revealed its $40 billion Maritime Silk Road project aimed at connecting the country with communication lines in the Indian Ocean and Asia-Pacific regions.As time has progressed, China and India have been increasingly rubbing shoulders vying for dominance in Asia. India is responding to China’s advances in the Indian Ocean by enhancing its own presence in the region.India intends to advance its defense aid to the region by providing ocean mapping, patrol ships, and surveillance radars for the island states. In the Seychelles, Modi will be signing a pact on mapping the waters around the archipelago. Meanwhile, Mauritius will commission a 1,300-ton Indian-built patrol vessel, India’s first export warship, part of a fourteen-warship order.In terms of economic aid, India has secured infrastructure development rights for two islands in the region, Assumption in the Seychelles and Agalega in Mauritius. This essentially mimics the model that has propelled China to a position of power in the Indian Ocean. On top of this infrastructure development plan, Modi announced the creation of joint working groups to foster further economic cooperation between India and the ocean nations. India has been criticized for lacking a maritime strategy and a sense of urgency about its own ocean; now that it is finally taking China’s incursions seriously, India is attempting to assume the same role China is currently filling. To do this, India is counting on historical linkages and “substantive” goodwill between itself and the three island states to supplant its East Asian rival and return to its position of dominance in its namesake ocean. Sources:http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-31828592http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-ocean-of-opportunities-2067725http://thediplomat.com/2015/03/modis-trip-and-chinas-islands-the-battle-for-the-indian-ocean/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-to-develop-two-islands-in-Indian-Ocean/articleshow/46533103.cmshttp://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/PM-Modi-leaves-on-3-nation-tour-to-reinvigorate-relations/articleshow/46519858.cms