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LATEST RESEARCH

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THE GEOPOLITICS OF HELIUM — CURRENTS AND CONSEQUENCES

Author:      Abstract The Persian Gulf conflict of 2025–26 has exposed a structural vulnerability at the intersection of geopolitics, maritime logistics, and high-technology supply chains— the global helium market.  This article argues that the disruption of helium is not merely an industrial inconvenience but a geostrategic signal of the first order that India, as a […]
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EVALUATING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF IORA’S DIALOGUE PARTNERS

Author:      Keywords: IORA, Dialogue Partners, Regional Cooperation, Multilateral Accountability, MAHASAGAR, India’s IORA Chairmanship, Maritime Governance, Special Fund, GIZ, South Korea, China, Germany India assumed the chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in November of 2025, inheriting a forum with twelve Dialogue Partners and no systematic account of what any of them has […]
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THE CASE FOR A “HOLISTIC MARITIME SECURITY” DIALOGUE BETWEEN INDIA AND SEYCHELLES

Author:       Keywords Seychelles; India; Maritime Diplomacy; Blue Economy; Maritime Security; Non-Traditional Maritime Security Threats; Small Island Development States (SIDS) On 12 March 2025, during his visit to Mauritius, Prime Minister Modi unveiled India’s enhanced maritime policy, vision or outlook — MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) — an […]
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SEA-BLINDNESS IN INDIAN SOCIETY — IMPLICATIONS FOR NATIONAL IDENTITY AND POLICY

Author:       Present discussions surrounding sea-blindness carry a deeper subtext.  India’s legitimacy as a maritime nation has rarely been disputed, yet the country continues to think of itself largely through a continental lens rather than a maritime one, despite the fact that the Government of India has increasingly articulated the nation’s maritime orientation with […]
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FROM PROJECTS TO PERCEPTIONS — REIMAGINING INDIA’S ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MALDIVES

Author:     India’s engagement with the Maldives represents one of the most significant examples of development diplomacy in South Asia.  Over the past two decades, India has emerged as one of the foremost development and security partners of the Maldives, supporting the island nation through infrastructure financing, capacity-building and capability-enhancement initiatives, humanitarian assistance, financial support […]

CHINA BRIEFS

CHINA’S TYPE 076 LHA NEARS COMMISSIONING

PAKISTAN'S HANGOR CLASS SUBMARINE PROGRAMME – AN UPDATE

A HOME PORT FOR CHINA’S NUCLEAR POWERED AIRCRAFT CARRIER

CHINA’S SURVEY AND RESEARCH VESSEL (CSRV) FLEET AND ASSOCIATED RESEARCH INSTITUTES: PART IV – FIRST, SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY (MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES)

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CHINA’S TYPE 076 LHA NEARS COMMISSIONING

Author:   Rear Admiral Monty Khanna (Retd) – ‘Dabolim Diaries’ Issue No 23 dated 25 May 2026 PLA Navy Expeditionary Assets China has made considerable investment in her expeditionary capabilities. More notably, the expeditionary assets that the PLA Navy has acquired over the years have increased in both, size and capability. Various variants of the Type […]
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PAKISTAN’S HANGOR CLASS SUBMARINE PROGRAMME – AN UPDATE

Author:     Rear Admiral Monty Khanna (Retd) – ‘Dabolim Diaries’ Issue No 22 dated 17 May 2026 This brief is an update on Pakistan’s Hangor Class submarine programme, an earlier report on which was published on 25 March 2025. Several notable events have happened since this was published. These are as listed in the subsequent […]
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A HOME PORT FOR CHINA’S NUCLEAR POWERED AIRCRAFT CARRIER

Author:     Rear Admiral Monty Khanna (Retd) – ‘Dabolim Diaries’ Issue No 21 dated 07 May 2026 China’s aircraft carrier programme is gathering steam. The commissioning of the Liaoning (25 Sep 2012) was followed by the Shandong (17 Dec 2019), which had large design similarities with its predecessor. After this, there was a hiatus of […]
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CHINA’S SURVEY AND RESEARCH VESSEL (CSRV) FLEET AND ASSOCIATED RESEARCH INSTITUTES: PART III – GUANGZHOU MARINE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (GMGS)

Author:   Rear Admiral Monty Khanna (Retd) – ‘Dabolim Diaries’ Issue No 20 dated 31 Mar 2026   The Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey (GMGS) operates under the direct control of China Geological Survey, Ministry of Land and Resources. It is a comprehensive scientific institution which conducts national basic, strategic and public beneficial investigation and research of […]
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CHINA’S SURVEY AND RESEARCH VESSEL (CSRV) FLEET AND ASSOCIATED RESEARCH INSTITUTES: PART IV – FIRST, SECOND, THIRD AND FOURTH INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY (MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES)

Author:     Rear Admiral Monty Khanna (Retd) – ‘Dabolim Diaries’ Issue No 19 dated 19 Mar 2026 China has over the years created four large Institutes of Oceanography that function under the Ministry of Natural Resources, often with collaboration with a provincial government/body. Three of these (First, Second, and Third) were established between the late […]

LATEST UPDATES

India–ROK Emerging Scholars Seminar on Maritime Cooperation

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India–ROK Emerging Scholars Seminar on Maritime Cooperation

Author: Ms Arijita Sinha Roy, Research Associate at the National Maritime Foundation, participated in the ROK Emerging Scholars Seminar organised by the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP) under the Global South Think Tank Partnership Program on 22 April 2026 in New Delhi. The seminar brought together scholars and policy researchers to assess the progress […]
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Strengthening Maritime Security in the Western Indian Ocean: Insights from Mombasa Workshop

Author: A recent workshop held in Mombasa brought together representatives from over 20 countries, international organisations, and think tanks to exchange perspectives on maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean. A key area of discussion was the operationalisation of the DCoC/JA Working Group 3 (WG3), currently chaired by Kenya, focusing on enhancing operational cooperation and coordination […]
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NMF Senior Fellow Participates in Maritime Security Workshop in Mombasa

Author: Captain RS Sawan, Senior Fellow at the National Maritime Foundation, participated in a workshop on maritime cooperation and coordination in the Western Indian Ocean held in Mombasa from 14 to 17 April 2026. The workshop was organised by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies and brought together senior practitioners, policymakers, and experts to examine effective […]
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NMF Hosts Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Delegation for Strategic Engagement

Author: The National Maritime Foundation hosted Captain Hiroyuki Kosuga, Outgoing Naval Attaché at the Embassy of Japan, for a professional interaction, alongside the introduction of the incoming Naval Attaché, Captain Nakanishi Ryota of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). The interaction was attended by Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan, AVSM & Bar, VSM (Retd), Director-General of the […]
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NMF Moderates Session on India–ROK Economic Collaboration at KI-FEIF 2026

Author: Commodore Jai Bedi, Executive Director of the National Maritime Foundation, moderated a session on “Korea–India Collaboration—Business Incentives, Regulatory Framework, and Joint Opportunities” at the 4th Korea–India Future Economy and Industry Forum 2026 (KI-FEIF). The forum was hosted by the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP) and brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and experts to […]

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