Indian Ocean Security: An American Perspective

Asst. Prof. Jeffrey Payne, together with discussant Dr. Premesha Saha, will lead this free seminar in the YCAPS Indo-Pacific Policy Dialogue. They will discuss the US approach to the Indian Ocean within the context of its larger Indo-Pacific strategy. U.S. policy towards the Indo-Pacific is primarily perceived through its approaches to via the Pacific Ocean, but when considering U.S. perspectives on the Indo-Pacific it is essential not to overlook the Indian Ocean Region. U.S. engagement in the Indian Ocean must navigate a large set of challenges, immense regional diversity, and bureaucratic seams. Through these variables, a clearer picture of what U.S. aims are, what key engagements are prioritized, and how the Indian Ocean matters to the affairs of the Pacific states. This session offers an invaluable opportunity for policymakers, scholars, and enthusiasts to gain deep insights into the intricate dynamics of the Indo-Pacific region, with a particular focus on the Indian Ocean and US approaches to it.

YCAPS is glad to partner with Temple University Japan’s Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies to deliver this opportunity. The discussion will be moderated by Dr. John Bradford, Executive Director of YCAPS and ICAS Academic Fellow.

Please Bring a photo ID upon reception.

Please use This Link to RSVP for in-person attendence.

Location:

Temple University Japan Campus, Room 409

1-14-29 Taishido, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo

Map

Speaker:

Mr. Jeffrey Payne currently serves as an Assistant Professor at the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies. He pilots NESA’s maritime security programming, including its ongoing series devoted to the Indian Ocean Region and wider Indo-Pacific. In addition, he leads NESA’s engagements relating to maritime and littoral information sharing/data analysis. Mr. Payne conducts analysis on Chinese foreign policy, Indian Ocean regional affairs, and maritime security. He is particularly interested in the intersection of maritime security and strategic competition in the Indian Ocean, as well as how technology and information can assist in furthering security cooperation. His work informs the United States Combatant Commands, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and interagency efforts inside the United States government.

Mr. Payne takes part in United States efforts relating to Maritime Domain Awareness and helps facilitate discussions across bureaucratic seams existing in the Indian ocean. He has presented before international conclaves, security forums, and defense institutions in Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia. His research has appeared in edited volumes, peer-reviewed journals, and security- related publications

Discussant:

Dr. Premesha Saha is Fellow with the Observer Research Foundation’s (ORF) Strategic Studies Programme in New Delhi. She is currently the Japan Foundation Indo-Pacific Partnership Research Fellow based in Tokyo. She is a Visiting Fellow at the Japan Forum on International Relations (JFIR) in Tokyo. Her research focuses on Southeast Asia, East Asia, Oceania and the emerging dynamics of the Indo-Pacific region. Premesha’s other research interests include Indonesia’s maritime strategy, India and Southeast Asia, India’s Act East Policy, Asia-Pacific multilateralism.

Previously she has been an Associate Fellow at the National Maritime Foundation; Indo-Pacific Security Studies (FIPPS) Fellow sponsored by the US State Department at Daniel K. Inouye Asia Pacific Centre for Security Studies (DKI APCSS), Honululu, Hawaii; Visiting Fellow at Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Jakarta; Visiting Fellow at Lemabaga Ilmu Pengetahuan (LIPI) Jakarta; and Darmasiswa Scholar sponsored by the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture at Universitas Katolik Indonesia Atma Jaya, Jakarta.

Premesha has completed her PhD from the Centre of Indo-Pacific Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. Her PhD thesis is titled, ‘Indonesia’s Maritime strategy in the Indian Ocean.’ She has published extensively in peer reviewed journals like Maritime Affairs, The Indonesia Quarterly, The Defence Security Brief, Journal of the Indian Ocean Region, The Washington Quarterly and newspapers and magazines like The Jakarta Post, The Hindu, The Foreign Policy, Australian Financial Review, The Economic Times, The Hindustan Times, Firstpost. She has also published chapters in edited books published by Pentagon Press, Harper Collins, Springer among others.

Cost: Free of charge

Moderator: Dr. John Bradford, Executive Director of YCAPS and ICAS Academic Fellow.

Format: This event will be off-the-record. Questions are encouraged.

Registration: Required via this Link.