Tell me about the Indian Ocean Strategic Venture

The Indian Ocean Strategic Venture is a bilateral strategic program established as an inter-agency track under the U.S.-India COMPACT.

It served as a key focus during detailed inter-agency discussions held in Washington, D.C., from 27 to 29 May 2025. These talks were led by an Indian delegation including Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Deputy National Security Advisor Pavan Kapoor, who met with counterparts across the U.S. Department of State, National Security Council, Department of Defense, Department of the Treasury, and Department of Commerce to execute the vision of the COMPACT.

The venture is designed to align with broader multilateral platforms in the region, including the Quad, I2U2, and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Connectivity Corridor (IMEEC). While the provided sources do not detail the specific operational mechanics of the Indian Ocean Strategic Venture, they note that security in the Indian Ocean region is a high priority for the partnership, heavily supported by defense initiatives like India's procurement of U.S.-made MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones for persistent maritime surveillance.