The seventh edition of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) recently took place, and has caught the attention of many. Hosted by the French Navy on Réunion island, this biennial event was initiated by the Indian Navy back in 2008. As a voluntary and inclusive initiative, it forms an important platform for navies of countries along the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to gather, enhancing maritime collaboration and bolstering regional security.
About IONS
The IONS aims to develop an effective response mechanism and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) against natural calamities. Since its inception, the chairmanship of IONS has made its rounds across India (2008-10), UAE (2010-12), South Africa (2012-14), Australia (2014-16), Bangladesh (2016-18) and Iran (2018-21), before landing in the hands of France, who assumed this role in June 2021 for a two-year tenure.
Member Nations
The symposium comprises 24 member nations that are either located within or bordering the IOR, as well as eight observer nations. These members fall into four geographical sub-groupings. The South Asian Littorals consist of Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom which operates the British Indian Ocean Territory. West Asian Littorals include Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, while East African Littorals comprise France’s Reunion Island, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa, and Tanzania. Lastly, Southeast Asian and Australian Littorals encompass Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.
Significance for India
For India, the IONS is crucial in achieving three key ambitions: fostering strong relations with the IOR littoral states, asserting its leadership potential and securing its vision of a stable, rules-based maritime order in the region. The symposium enables India to expand its sphere of influence, stretching from the Straits of Malacca to Hormuz, and serves as a strategic counterweight against China’s growing presence in the region.
Other Key IOR Groups and Initiatives
The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), established in 1997, seeks to enhance regional cooperation and sustainable development within the IOR. More recently, India has been admitted as an observer of the Indian Ocean Commission, an intergovernmental organization overseeing maritime governance in the southwestern Indian Ocean.
Launched in 2015, Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) is an initiative that aims for deepened economic and security cooperation with maritime neighbors and helps build their maritime security capacities.
In 2016, India and Japan issued a joint declaration leading to the creation of the Asia Africa Growth Corridor (AAGC). The AAGC focuses on four primary areas – Development and Cooperation Projects, Quality Infrastructure and Institutional Connectivity, Enhancing Capacities and Skills, and fostering People-to-People partnership.
The IONS, along with these initiatives, underline the prominence of the IOR in the geopolitical landscape and the crucial role it plays in maintaining regional stability and driving collective growth.
