For island communities, the ocean is the hinterland.
A delayed vessel can interrupt access to food, medicine and other essentials, making reliable connectivity a domestic necessity rather than an infrastructure question alone.
This brief argues that for India, recognising the ocean as the hinterland is an opportunity to connect its continental economy, island territories and regional leadership within a single maritime vision: https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/the-ocean-as-hinterland-a-new-lens-for-island-connectivity
orfonline.org
The Ocean as Hinterland: A New Lens for Island Connectivity
August 25, 2026 618 1 1
