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Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)

28 Jan 2026 GS 3 Defence
Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Click to view full image

Why in news

The Indian Navy’s First Training Squadron (1TS) concluded a three-day port call at Belawan, Indonesia a key member of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), strengthening maritime cooperation with Indonesian Navy. The visit aligns with India’s regional maritime vision of MAHASAGAR and cooperation under the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS).

What is IONS

The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) is a voluntary, non-binding consultative forum that brings together the navies of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to enhance maritime cooperation, security, and confidence-building.

Establishment and background

  • Proposed by: Indian Navy

  • Year of establishment: 2008

  • First Conclave: New Delhi

  • Nature: Not a military alliance; no collective defence obligation

Objectives

  • Promote maritime security cooperation in the Indian Ocean

  • Enhance mutual understanding and interoperability among navies

  • Share best practices on:

    • Maritime safety

    • Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)

    • Search and Rescue (SAR)

    • Counter-piracy and maritime crime

  • Strengthen confidence-building measures (CBMs)

Membership

  • Includes navies of Indian Ocean littoral states and island nations

  • Divided into four sub-regions:

    1. South Asia

    2. West Asia

    3. East Africa

    4. Southeast Asia & Australia

Organisational structure

  • Conclave of Chiefs of Navy (CHODs): Apex decision-making body

  • IONS Working Groups (IWGs):

    • Maritime Security

    • HADR

    • Information sharing

  • Chairmanship:

    • Rotates among member states

    • Each Chair holds office for two years

Members of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)

IONS comprises navies of Indian Ocean littoral states and island nations.
Membership is voluntary and limited to countries with a direct stake in the Indian Ocean Region.

List of IONS member countries

  1. India

  2. Australia

  3. Bangladesh

  4. Comoros

  5. France (through Réunion Island and other Indian Ocean territories)

  6. Indonesia

  7. Iran

  8. Kenya

  9. Madagascar

  10. Malaysia

  11. Maldives

  12. Mauritius

  13. Mozambique

  14. Myanmar

  15. Oman

  16. Pakistan

  17. Seychelles

  18. Singapore

  19. South Africa

  20. Sri Lanka

  21. Tanzania

  22. Thailand

  23. Timor-Leste

  24. United Arab Emirates

Important Points

  • Membership is restricted to Indian Ocean littoral and island states

  • Extra-regional powers like the US, China, Japan are not members

  • France is a member only because of its Indian Ocean territories

  • IONS is not a military alliance and has no collective defence clause

Prelims Practice MCQs

Q. Which of the following countries is a member of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)?

(a) Japan
(b) France
(c) United States
(d) United Kingdom

Correct answer: (b)

Explanation:
France is a member due to its Indian Ocean territories; the others are not Indian Ocean littoral states.



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