Maritime Terrorism in the Indian Ocean Region: Evolving Threats, Emerging Technologies, and Strategic Responses

Abstract

Over the past two decades and more, maritime terrorism in the Indian Ocean Region has evolved from relatively limited ac-tivities such as hijackings and coastal damage into a more complex and technologically sophisticated threat that increasingly endangers global sea lines of communication and maritime trade. Today, terrorist groups exploit advanced navigation sys-tems, cyber tools, unmanned platforms, and transnational criminal networks, often operating through unprotected choke-points and fragile coastal governance structures, while also associating with piracy and organized crime. Although numerous regional and international responses, including naval collaboration, maritime domain awareness initiatives, and coun-ter-terrorism frameworks, have been implemented, they remain fragmented and largely reactive, limiting their effectiveness against an adaptive threat environment. The study therefore emphasizes the need for an all-inclusive and forward-looking maritime security strategy grounded in multilateral cooperation, legal harmonization, technological unification, capacity development, and socio-economic growth of coastal communities to ensure long-term stability in the Indian Ocean maritime domain.