Maritime security in the Indian Ocean: Strategic setting and features

This research paper by Prof. TD Potgieter examines the historical strategic setting of maritime security in the Indian Ocean, focusing on the transition from traditional trade patterns to European naval dominance and the role of sea power in empire building.

• Traditional trade and communication patterns in the Indian Ocean were fundamentally altered by the arrival of the Portuguese and subsequent European powers who sailed around the Cape of Good Hope to build empires in the East.
• European naval powers used warships to establish dominance in the Indian Ocean to project influence and protect national interests. The British specifically leveraged sea power to create a large empire in the region.
• During the 19th century, European navies contributed to maritime order by working to eliminate piracy and slavery.

APA

Potgieter, T. (. (n.d.). Maritime security in the Indian Ocean: Strategic setting and features. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/research/papers/maritime-security-in-the-indian-ocean-strategic-setting-and-features

Chicago

Potgieter, TD (Thean). Maritime security in the Indian Ocean: Strategic setting and features. Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.org/research/papers/maritime-security-in-the-indian-ocean-strategic-setting-and-features.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Potgieter |first1=TD (Thean) |title=Maritime security in the Indian Ocean: Strategic setting and features |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.org/research/papers/maritime-security-in-the-indian-ocean-strategic-setting-and-features |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{potgieterndmaritime, author = {Potgieter, TD (Thean)}, title = {{Maritime security in the Indian Ocean: Strategic setting and features}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.org/research/papers/maritime-security-in-the-indian-ocean-strategic-setting-and-features}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }