Some speculated this was a deliberate provocation, since it took place during the fiftieth anniversary of the USS Enterprise entering the Bay of Bengal during the 1971 India–Pakistan War. In April 2021, the US Navy conducted a freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) inside India’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), sparking an outcry among Indian commentators. The United States needs to start planning for an operational environment more marked by mare clausum, where not only adversaries but also allies and partners have restriction on the freedom of navigation. While most commentators assume India’s position will eventually converge with that of the United States, this is unlikely to occur. This article traces the historical origins of this view and India’s current maritime policies. While maintaining both positions seems contradictory, it should be seen as an aspect of mare clausum and India wanting to control its territorial waters. India retains a policy that restricts freedom of navigation in what it considers its territorial waters at the same time, India has taken a vocal stance on the importance of freedom of the sea and the international rules-based order.
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