India, April 28 -- The ongoing tensions in the Gulf and the looming spectre of a blockade in the Strait of Hormuz serve as a stark reminder that global sea lanes are neither inviolable nor immune to disruption. For India, a nation whose economic lifelines are inextricably tied to the seas, this is not a distant geopolitical abstraction but an immediate strategic concern. With a coastline stretching over 11,000 kilometres, an expansive Exclusive Economic Zone, and a vast network of islands, India's maritime geography is both an asset and a vulnerability.

Over the decades, the country has painstakingly built a credible coastal security architecture. Yet, credibility alone is no longer sufficient. The emerging security environment demands a...