INDIA AS A SECURITY PROVIDER IN INDIAN OCEAN REGION (IOR)

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Context: 

The Union Defence Minister highlighted the importance of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) during the second edition of the Naval Commanders' Conference in New Delhi.

Details

• The Indian Ocean is the gateway for global trade, with more than 80% of all trade moving through its waters. This includes a significant amount of the oil trade and the flow of goods to and from Asia, Africa, and Europe.
• The region faces risks such as piracy, hijacking, and maritime terrorism, making security a top priority. In this context, the Indian Navy is essential in maintaining maritime security, conducting anti-piracy operations, and protecting commercial routes.

About Indian Ocean Region (IOR)

The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) includes both the Indian Ocean and the countries surrounding it. This large territory extends from the eastern coast of Africa to the western coast of Australia and from the Arabian Peninsula in the north to the southern coasts of Sri Lanka and Australia.

Strategic Importance

• The Indian Ocean is an important maritime route that facilitates the transportation of products between the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. It controls important maritime routes that transport half of the world's container ships, one-third of bulk cargo traffic, and two-thirds of oil shipments.
• The region is rich in energy resources, such as oil and natural gas. Major oil producers, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Iraq, rely on the Indian Ocean to export their energy products.
• The IOR serves as a focal point for geopolitical interests, with major nations such as the United States, China, and India holding important strategic and military interests in the region.

Cultural Significance

• The IOR is home to almost 2.7 billion people and represents a diverse range of cultures, languages, religions, customs, arts, and cuisines. The region's countries differ greatly in geography, population, and economic development. They can be separated into a few sub-regions.
• Australasia: Includes Australia and surrounding islands.
• Southeast Asia: Includes countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
• South Asia: Includes India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
• West Asia: Includes countries on the Arabian Peninsula.
• Eastern and Southern Africa: Includes countries like Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa.

Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

• It is an inter-governmental organisation founded in 1997 to promote regional cooperation and sustainable development in the IOR. It includes 23 member states and 12 dialogue partners.
• It seeks to enhance economic cooperation, including trade facilitation, investment promotion, and social development throughout the region.
• The Council of Foreign Ministers (COM) is the IORA's top body, and it meets annually. It includes the Indian Ocean Rim Academic Group (IORAG), the Indian Ocean Rim Business Forum (IORBF), and several working groups.
• The IORA prioritises various sectors, including marine safety and security, trade and investment facilitation, fisheries management, catastrophe risk reduction, academic and scientific collaboration, and tourism development.

Challenges and Issues

• Piracy, illegal fishing, and marine terrorism pose serious security threats in the region. Ensuring safe and secure sea passages is critical to the IOR's stability and economic success.
• Climate change, increasing sea levels, and marine pollution all threaten the region's ecosystem. These challenges require collaborative efforts for successful management and mitigation.
• The IOR countries face significant economic inequality. Promoting equitable economic growth and development is critical for addressing these imbalances.
• The IOR is a hotbed of geopolitical conflicts, with prominent nations competing for influence. Balancing these interests while encouraging regional collaboration is challenging.

Way Forward

• Strengthening cooperation among IOR countries through platforms such as the IORA can help address common concerns and promote sustainable development.
• Collaborative initiatives to improve maritime security, such as joint patrols, information sharing, and capacity building, are critical for maintaining safe and secure seaways.
• Concentrating on sustainable development strategies, such as marine resource conservation and green technology promotion, can help to reduce environmental issues.
• Trade agreements, investment facilitation, and infrastructure development can all contribute to economic integration and inclusive growth.

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Source:

PIB

Wikipedia

Indian Ocean Rim Association

PRACTICE QUESTION Q.Consider the following statements regarding the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA): 1. The headquarters of IORA are in Jakarta, Indonesia. 2. IORA membership is limited to countries with a coastline along the Indian Ocean. 3. India was a founding member of the Indian Ocean Rim Association. How many of the above statements are incorrect? A) Only one B) Only two C) All three D) None Answer: B Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect: The headquarters of IORA are in Ebène, Mauritius. Statement 2 is incorrect: IORA membership is restricted to countries with coasts along the Indian Ocean, but it also includes Dialogue Partners (such as the United States, Japan, and China), who do not fit the coastline criteria but participate in cooperation and debates. Statement 3 is correct:  India was a founding member of the Indian Ocean Rim Association, which was created in 1997.