Q. Consider the following in respect of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS):

  1. Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the Indian Navy.
  2. IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

  • 1 only
  • 2 only
  • Both 1 and 2
  • Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (b) 2 only

Indian Ocean Naval Symposium:
  • The ‘Indian Ocean Naval Symposium’ (IONS) is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime cooperation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region by providing an open and inclusive forum for discussion of regionally relevant maritime issues.
  • It was conceived by the Indian Navy in 2008 as a forum which seeks to enhance maritime cooperation among Navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.
  • The inaugural edition of IONS was held in Feb. 2008 at New Delhi, with the Indian Navy as the Chair for two years (2008 – 2010). 
  • Subsequent seminars and meetings of the ‘Conclave of Chiefs’ have been held at the commencement of each two year IONS Chairmanship:
    • United Arab Emirates in 2010,
    • South Africa in 2012,
    • Australia in 2014,
    • Bangladesh in 2016 and
    • Iran in 2018.
  • In 2020 the IONS Chairmanship rotates to France and in 2022 to Thailand.
  • IONS includes 24 nations that permanently hold territory that abuts or lies within the Indian Ocean and 8 observer nations.
    • The members have been geographically grouped into the following four sub-regions:
      • South Asian Littorals: Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and United Kingdom (British Indian Ocean Territory)
      • West Asian Littorals: Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates
      • East African Littorals: France (Reunion), Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa, and Tanzania.
      • South East Asian and Australian Littorals: Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.
  • It endeavours to generate a flow of information between naval professionals that would lead to common understanding and possibly cooperative solutions on the way ahead.
  • Significance For India:
    • IONS fits into India’s three-fold ambitions in the region:
      • Strengthening and deepening the relations with the Indian Ocean littoral states,
      • Establishing its leadership potential and aspirations of being a net-security provider, and
      • Fulfilling India’s vision of a rules-based and stable maritime order in the IOR.
    • It will help India to consolidate its sphere of influence from the Straits of Malacca to Hormuz.
    • IONS can be used to counterbalance the increasing presence of China in the region.
Indian Ocean Naval Symposium