The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) held its Council of Ministers (COM) on October 11, 2023 in Colombo. The event was attended by foreign ministers and senior officials from its 23 member nations. The banner theme was ‘Reinforcing Indian Ocean Identity’.
This year, the conference saw heightened interest from other countries. These countries are either “dialogue partners” or aspire to become ones. The increased attention spotlights the 26-year-old organisation. IORA is the brainchild of former South African President, Nelson Mandela.
Overview: Indian Ocean Rim Association
- The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) consists of 23 countries from regions including Africa, West Asia, South Asia, South East Asia, Australia, and states around the Indian Ocean.
- Its main body, the Council of Foreign Ministers, gathers annually.
- Each term lasts two years, rotating among members.
- Currently, Sri Lanka is the chair, taking over from Bangladesh, with India as vice-chair. This places the leadership of IORA in the South Asian region.
- Member countries include Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, the UAE, and Yemen.
- The Association also maintains dialogue with 11 partners: China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Turkey, the UK, and the US.
- IORA, originally named the Indian Ocean Region-Association for Regional Cooperation, was established in 1997 in Mauritius.
- The idea for the association originated from a speech by Nelson Mandela during his visit to India in 1995, where he suggested the creation of a cooperative body for the Indian Ocean region.
The Significance Of IORA In Shaping India’s Regional Power Dynamics
- The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) region is home to 2.6 billion people, which is a third of the world’s populace.
- This region handles 80% of global oil trade, 50% of global container cargo, and a third of global bulk cargo.
- The IORA collectively contributes $1 trillion worth of goods and services.
- Intra-IORA trade is approximately $800 billion.
- India is part of other regional organisations such as SAARC and BIMSTEC, but these entities face unique challenges.
- The QUAD security dialogue, involving the US, Japan, and Australia, has shown progression but is still US-led.
- China actively seeks to engage India’s neighbours in initiatives like the BRI, the China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation, and the China-South Asian Countries Poverty Alleviation and Cooperative Development Centre, from which India is excluded.
- In contrast, IORA serves as a “safe space” for India and other countries wanting to avoid larger power struggles.
- IORA’s membership operates on the basis of consensus. Pakistan’s request for membership has been consistently rejected since 2001 due to its failure to grant India MFN status. This distinction makes IORA a less contentious platform for India, in contrast to organisations like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
IORA’s Seven Priority Areas
- The IORA prioritises seven areas: maritime safety and security, trade and investment facilitation, fisheries management, disaster risk management, academic science and technology, tourism and cultural exchanges, and gender empowerment.
- The IORA also manages a special fund. This fund provides project grants to members, ranging from $80,000 to $150,000.
- The organisation pays particular attention to climate change.
- In the IORA discussions, strategies, sea lane freedom, and anti-piracy measures are vital topics.
- During this year’s conference, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar emphasised the need for the Indian Ocean to remain “free, open, and inclusive.”
- Jaishankar advocates for “respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity,” grounded in the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas.
- He warned against ‘hidden agendas, unviable projects, or unsustainable debt’, particularly for countries in the Indian Ocean Region. These comments were perceived to be directed towards China.