Water is essential both for the creation and sustenance of life. But we have always taken the oceans, the basic source of water and their resources as the permanent and inexhaustible. Humanking has awakened very late to the fact that the marine resources are not inexhaustible and need to be conserved and developed for future generations. With this realization the possibility of conflicts among sovereign national over use and control of the oceans and their resources has increased manifold. The present study attempt to discuss the interests of the littoral states as well as of other big power in the Indian Ocean, the presence of regional and extra-region powers on its waters and the prospects of peace in the Indian Ocean region in the backdrop of Indo-US relations.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: Introduction Geographical features, Indian ocean as a region, Divisionas of the indian ocean region, Historical legacy, Geo-strategic importance of the india ocean, Economic importance of the indian ocean, Living resources, Capture fishery, Mariculture, Seaweeds, Mangrove ecosystem, Coral reefs, Non-living resources, Drugs from sea, Marine chemicals, Placer deposits, Offshore mining, Deep sea mining, Ocean engineering, India: changing perceptions Chapter 2: Conceptualizing Peace Origin of the concept, Meaning, The concept of peace zone has five major aspects, Pre-conditions, Aims and objectives, Problems and obstructions, Alternative proposal and confidence-building measures, Principles for peace, The concept of zone of peace has certain serious and immediate implications Chapter 3: Indian Diplomacy Important planks on which india’s indian ocean policy is based, India’s indian ocean policy in pre-independence era, 1947 to 1965, 1965-1971, 1971 onwards, After 1990 Chapter 4: US Interests and Presence in the Indian Ocean United states begins to take an interest in the indian ocean, The unites states entry into the indian ocean, United states presence in the indian ocean, The new us bases, US presence in the indian ocean in the post cold war world, US interest in the indian ocean: A change in perception Chapter 5: Littoral States and Sea Politics South and Eastern Africa, Islands and groups of islands, The persian gulf, South asia-india, Pakistan, Maldives and nepal, India, Pakistan, Maldives, Bhutan and nepal, South-east asian states- indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and burma, Australia Chapter 6: Role of IOR-ARC How it came about? The background, Track one conference-Port louis-March 1995, Track two conference-perth june 1995, Establishment of IOR-ARC, These projects related to, Indi and IOR-ARC Chapter 7: Regional and Extra-regional Navies in the Indian Ocean Interests of extra-regional and regional power in the region, Changing role of navies, India, Far eastern naval command (FENC), International fleet review, Admiral gorshkov, INS kadamb, Pakistan, Sri lanka, Sough africa, Australia, Japan, France, Varuna-2004, China Chapter 8: Indo-US Relations and Prospects of Peace in the Indian Ocean Region, India in the indian ocean, Maritime interests of india, United states of america in the indian ocean, Indo-US relations, Towards cooperation Chapter 9: Conclusions, Geographical scene, Maritime jurisdiction.