The G7’s Contribution to Maritime Security in the Indo-Pacific

Abstract

The Indo-Pacific region is subjected to ongoing strategic transformations involving the security sphere. The potential disruption of vital sea lines and critical supply chains warrant greater cooperation on maritime security. Group of Seven (G7) countries have recently ramped up their military engagement in the Indo-Pacific and cooperation with regional partners, released Indo-Pacific strategies and launched initiatives to enhance maritime security as well as resilience of supply chains and critical infrastructures. The G7 should scale up its effort to maximise existing bilateral and minilateral initiatives with such key regional actors as India, Japan and Australia. To strengthen the security architecture of the maritime domain, the G7 should establish a multilateral Maritime Security Dialogue for the Indo-Pacific. The platform should address key strategic challenges such as threats to freedom of navigation, and disruption of supply chain and critical infrastructures.