India’s Southward Turn: Modi’s Strategic Realignment in the Indian Ocean Region

India’s foreign policy in the Indian Ocean has traditionally revolved around its northern arc—countries close to its shores or along major sea lanes near the subcontinent. Over the past decade, and especially under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, there has been a perceptible shift southward, a reorientation sometimes labelled India’s “looking south” policy. This new engagement is evident in everything from trade and investment data to changes in foreign aid patterns and naval collaborations.