Indian Ocean Naval Symposium

Why in news?

• The regional grouping Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) conducted its maiden edition of maritime exercise, IMEX-22, at Goa and in the Arabian Sea from March 26 to 30, 2022.

About Indian Ocean Naval Symposium:

• The IONS is a voluntary and inclusive initiative that brings together navies of Indian Ocean Region (IOR) littoral states to increase maritime co-operation and enhance regional security.
• It also serves to develop an effective response mechanism and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) against natural disasters.
• IONS refer to a series of meetings held every two years. These meetings are held between the various coastal states located in the Indian Ocean region.
• A forum is organized as a part of the meetings to increase cooperation in relation to maritime security.

Members:

• IONS include 24 member nations that touch or lie 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.
• Observers: China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Madagascar, the Netherlands, Russia and Spain.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Which of the following countries are members of ‘Indian Ocean Naval Symposium’?

1. India

2. Pakistan

3. Afghanistan

4. South Africa

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1,3 and 4 only

(b) 2,3 and 4 only

(c) 1,2 and 4 only

(d) 1 and 3 only

Answer