TIM SWEIJS and JEROEN DE JONGE of the Hague Center for Strategic Studies state that the Indian Ocean and its rim with instability in its north-west corner, failing governance structures and resource competition could well become a sample stage for systemic challenges to global security even as it emerged as a key transportation hub and trade destination on the back of strong growth in its littorals.
They analyze three key themes related to Indian Ocean's maritime future in their article in Marineblad magazine, "The Maritime Future of the Indian Ocean"
1. strategic importance of the sea lines of communication (SLOC) where energy security could drive confrontation between major players,
2. vulnerability of SLOCs to the threat of non-state actors such as pirates, terrorists, and international crime syndicates and
3. the maritime balance of power including naval assets, strategic maritime infrastructure and co-operation
They recommend closer attention to the Indian Ocean at the highest strategic levels, regional governance frameworks that facilitated smoother integration while upholding the principles of an open world economy and for industry to reassess their policies regarding supply-chain risk management. 