Context

• Recently, the 7^th edition of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), a biennial event, was hosted by the French Navy at La Réunion.

About Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)

• Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) conceived by the Indian Navy in 2008, seeks to enhance maritime cooperation among Navies of the littoral states of the IOR by providing an open and inclusive forum for discussion of regionally relevant maritime issues that would lead to common understanding on the way ahead.
• The chairmanship of IONS has been held by India (2008-10), UAE (2010-12), South Africa (2012-14), Australia (2014-16), Bangladesh (2016-18) and Islamic Republic of Iran (2018-21).
• France has assumed the Chairmanship on 29 Jun 21 for a two-year tenure.

Objectives of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)

• 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.
• It acts as a security construct for the Indian Ocean region.
• It also conducts numerous other activities like workshops, essay competitions and lectures to promote its objective.

Members of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)

• 

  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.

Source: PIB

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