Blue Diplomacy and Oceanic Geopolitics in the Indian Ocean Rim: Comparative Perspectives from the Western Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal

The article investigates how blue diplomacy and oceanic geopolitical developments function within Indian Ocean Rim countries through its examination of Western Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal Ocean governance, which unites security interests with geoeconomic matters and climate diplomacy efforts. The study establishes a conceptual connection between maritime strategy and geoeconomic statecraft through their relationship with blue economy narratives and regional maritime governance regime complexity. The research relies on recent academic work which demonstrates the strategic importance of chokepoints and corridor vulnerabilities because the Strait of Hormuz handles approximately 13 per cent of worldwide maritime trade and chokepoint disruptions create systemic financial disturbances. The article demonstrates that the two subregions establish different blue diplomacy entry points because the Western Indian Ocean is more influenced by maritime security and small-state agency which Seychelles demonstrates through its US15 million blue bond program, and the Bay of Bengal develops through first development connectivity politics and port-corridor competition. Climate diplomacy operates as a unified driver that connects all aspects of climate change because scientists have documented sea-level rise at 3.7 millimetres per year between 2006 and 2018, while 44.1 million people in Asia Pacific regions live at elevations below 1 meter above mean sea level. The research results demonstrate that divided institutional systems create two effects that lead to strategic independence through different forums while creating difficulties for implementation because of duplicated efforts and varying organisational abilities. The article provides policy recommendations for blue diplomacy, which include climate-resilient port governance and fisheries compliance, and interoperable maritime domain awareness systems throughout the Indian Ocean Rim.