The Indo-Pacific is often framed through the lens of great power politics, yet the perspectives of Large Ocean States (LOS) remain underexplored. The upcoming issue of Indo-Pacific Review, shifts the focus to these nations, highlighting their unique agency in shaping the region's geopolitical discourse. Exploring themes of history, security, and engagement with major powers, this issue foregrounds the enduring concerns of LOS, particularly around climate change and environmental protection. Instruments like the 2018 Boe Declaration on Regional Security showcase how LOS frame these existential challenges as ‘human security,’ using them to assert their identity and influence. By emphasizing their role as norm-setters and discourse-shapers, this issue examines how LOS challenge traditional security paradigms and redefine the Indo-Pacific's core priorities, offering fresh insights into the region’s evolving identity.