China’s formal proposal to host the Secretariat of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, putting forward Xiamen as its prospective location, has drawn both anticipation and apprehension. Submitted on 16 January 2026, just one day before the Agreement’s entry into force, the move was widely interpreted as a deliberate act of diplomatic […]
Keywords: MARINE FISHERIES, MFRAs, RFMOs, MARITIME ZONES, IUU FISHING, SDG This research-article examines the legal and institutional challenges that hinder India’s efforts to ensure sustainable marine fisheries. It highlights the multiplicity of ministries involved, overlapping mandates, conflicting regulations, the absence of a cohesive national framework, and the urgent need for harmonisation and modernisation. […]
Abstract: As part of its continuing efforts to expand its reach into the Indian Ocean, Türkiye’s strategy in the region is increasingly shaped by its alignment with Muslim-majority states, with the broader aim of crafting an alternative power bloc to the Saudi-led order—as many scholars interpret it, a step towards realising Ankara’s neo-Ottoman […]
Commodore (Dr) Sanjay Kumar Jha (Retd); Pentagon Press, 2024; 201 Pages, ISBN: 978-93-90095-94-0, Rs 995 (Hardback) “The relationship between human evolution and the seas is symbiotic. Shipbuilding has been the foundation of this relationship.” This quote by Commodore Jha captures the essence of his book, which traces humanity’s maritime journey from simple paddled […]
Making Waves’ is a compilation of maritime news and news analyses drawn from national and international online sources. Drawn directly from original sources, minor editorial amendments are made by specialists on maritime affairs. It is intended for academic research, and not for commercial use. NMF expresses its gratitude to all sources of information, which are […]
This study positions the Blue Economy as a strategic instrument of foreign policy through which States drive diplomatic leverage by advancing sustainable ocean governance, institutional leadership, and coalition-building amid the evolving geopolitical complexities of the Indo-Pacific. Rather than treating the Blue Economy solely as an environmental or development framework, the paper conceptualises it […]
The National Maritime Foundation recently hosted an industry interaction with Astrobase Space Technologies, focusing on emerging space technologies and the rapid evolution of India’s space ecosystem. The discussion examined the intersection between maritime strategy and orbital capabilities, highlighting how space-based assets increasingly underpin maritime domain awareness, navigation, communications, and strategic deterrence. As India expands its […]
Under its Professional Education Lecture (PEL) Series, the National Maritime Foundation hosted a presentation by Commodore Mohit Goel, NM, on “India and Chinese Shipbuilding: Trends, Challenges, and Strategic Implications.” The lecture examined shipbuilding not merely as an industrial enterprise, but as a critical instrument of maritime statecraft. Beyond fleet expansion, shipbuilding enables enduring strategic relationships […]
Following several rounds of negotiations launched in March 2025, India and New Zealand concluded one of India’s fastest-negotiated Free Trade Agreements (FTA) in December 2025.[1] The Agreement significantly enhances market access and tariff preferences for Indian exports to New Zealand, marking a substantive upgrade in bilateral economic relations. Beyond its immediate commercial value, […]
Rear Admiral Monty Khanna (Retd) – Issue No 14 dated 01 Jan 2026 China’s third aircraft carrier, Fujian was commissioned on 05 Nov 2025. She is a substantial departure from her earlier siblings. Gone is the ramp at the bows which has been replaced by three Electro Magnetic Launching Systems (EMALS), thus making the […]
Türkiye’s expanding interest in the Indian Ocean—manifested through defence exports, naval diplomacy, and its growing partnership with Pakistan—has increasingly been interpreted in Indian strategic circles through a zero-sum lens. Yet this approach risks overestimating Türkiye’s structural capabilities while underestimating India’s ability to shape the regional environment. This article argues that India’s long-term maritime […]
The Blue Economy is often described as a sector of the economy — placed alongside the maritime sector or conflated with the “ocean economy” — limited to industries such as shipping, fisheries, offshore energy, and tourism. This narrow framing fundamentally underestimates both the scale of the ocean and the depth of humanity’s […]