The Indian Ocean Region in a Contested World

The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is fast becoming one of the world's most contested global commons. Home to critical sea lanes, energy and trade corridors, and a growing contest for influence among major and middle powers, traditional security challenges are growing and competing. The region is especially vulnerable to cascading effects of a changing climate, warming oceans and increasing frequency of natural events that are colliding with traditional security parameters.

As Australia deepens and attempts to diversify cooperation with partners including United States, Japan, Indonesia and India amongst others across the region, understanding the strategic importance of the region has never been more crucial. The effects are beyond notions of traditional security and have an impact on economic resilience, food security and future growth.

How does this play out for Australia's security and its future within the IOR? How do regional powers particularly US, China and India view and act within the IOR and how do these actions affect Australia?

Panel:
Professor Peter Dean (Senior Adviser for Defence Strategy, United States Studies Centre; Professor of Strategic Studies, Australian National University)
Dr Arzan Tarapore (Research Scholar, Stanford University)
Ambika Vishwanath (Principal Research Fellow, La Trobe Centre for Global Security, La Trobe University)
Professor Bec Strating (Director, La Trobe Centre for Global Security, La Trobe University)(Chair)