The geopolitics of the South Indian Ocean are an ever-increasing source of interest due to the opportunities for cooperation between the Island States and the major powers operating in the area. Furthermore, the States in this zone are being challenged by the need to strengthen their military and maritime capabilities in order to guarantee safety but also the food and energy security within their territories. The said States therefore have an ever-increasing interest in controlling this zone, which is subjected to the hazards of globalization and security-related risks. With a shoreline that is five-thousand kilometres in length, the exclusive economic zone which is more than a million square kilometres, the largest island in the Western Indian Ocean – and also one of the four largest islands in the world – is struggling to find its path regarding maritime strategy in the South West Indian Ocean. This paper seeks to analyse the military and strategic role played by Madagascar in the Indian Ocean through its naval forces.