8th Indian Ocean Conference | 18 Feb 2025

Source: IE 

Why in News? 

India’s External Affairs minister S Jaishankar represented India in the 8th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) held in Muscat, Oman with the theme ‘Voyage to New Horizons of Maritime Partnership’. 

IOR

What is the Indian Ocean Conference? 

  • About: IOC is an annual summit bringing together leaders, policymakers, and experts from the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to discuss geopolitical, economic, and security challenges. 
    • It was established by the India Foundation (India based think tank) in 2016 in Singapore with participation from 30 countries. 
  • Objective: It aims to unite key states and maritime partners in the IOR to enhance regional cooperation under the vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).  

SAGAR

What is the Indian Ocean Region? 

  • About: IOR refers to the region around the Indian Ocean, including the countries that border it. 
    • It spans from the Strait of Malacca and western Australia in the east to the Mozambique Channel in the west. 
    • It covers about 20% of the world’s water surface, a quarter of the world’s landmass, and three-quarters of global oil reserves.  
  • Strategic Importance:  
    • Economic Significance: Approximately 80% of global maritime oil and 80% of India’s oil imports pass through the Indian Ocean annually. 
    • Key Choke Points:  
      • Strait of Malacca (connects Southeast Asia and the Pacific Ocean to the Indian Ocean). 
      • Strait of Hormuz (connects the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean; crucial for global oil transport). 
      • Bab-el-Mandeb Strait (connects the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, impacting trade with Africa and the Middle East). 
      • Mozambique Channel (important for goods transiting from the Cape of Good Hope to the Middle East and Asia). 
    • Military Significance: It is home to key naval bases and faces maritime security concerns like piracy, illegal fishing, and territorial dispute. 
    • Critical Minerals: The Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) is estimated to hold vast reserves of nickel, copper, cobalt, and manganese. 

Click Here to Read: What are the Major Challenges Related to the Indian Ocean Region?, How to Deal with Challenges in the Indian Ocean Region? 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ) 

Prelims 

Q. Consider the following in respect of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): (2017)

  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? 

(a) 1 only  

(b) 2 only 

(c) Both 1 and 2  

(d) Neither 1 nor 2 

Ans: (b)

Q. With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, consider the following statements: (2015) 

  1. It was established very recently in response to incidents of piracy and accidents of oil spills.
  2. It is an alliance meant for maritime security only.

Which of the statements given above is/ are correct? 

(a) 1 only 

(b) 2 only 

(c) Both 1 and 2 

(d) Neither 1 nor 2 

Ans: (d)