1.1 The Chiefs of Maritime Forces of littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) gathered in New Delhi, from 14 to 16 Feb 2008, to launch the 21st century's significant International Maritime Initiative, namely, the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS). The overall aim was to increase maritime co-operation among navies/maritime agencies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region by capitalising upon individual strengths while simultaneously contributing to mutual growth. This important Multilateral Regional Initiative has met with wide acceptance across the length and breadth of Indian Ocean. IONS is a unique initiative in the region and an instrument for shaping and enhancing the co-operative maritime environment in IOR.
2.1 The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation amongst navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region by providing an open and inclusive forum for discussion of regionally relevant maritime issues. IONS endeavours to generate a flow of information between naval professionals resulting in common understanding and possibly agreements on the way ahead (In instances where there is no formally constituted 'Navy', the term 'navy' shall automatically mean the designated principal agency responsible for maritime security).
3.1 The primary aim of IONS is to attain mutually beneficial maritime security outcomes within the Indian Ocean. These outcomes will be achieved through the co-operation of all members in determining remedies relevant to regional maritime security.
4.1 The principal objectives envisaged for IONS are:
4.1.1 To promote a shared understanding of the full scope of the maritime issues facing the littoral nation states of the Indian Ocean and the formulation of strategies designed to enhance regional maritime security.
4.1.2 To strengthen the capability of all littoral nation states of the Indian Ocean to address present and anticipated challenges to maritime security.
4.1.3 To establish a variety of multilateral maritime co-operative mechanisms designed to mitigate maritime security concerns among members.
4.1.4 To develop interoperability in terms of doctrines and procedures, so as to provide speedy, responsive, and effective Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) throughout the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
5.1 IONS will function on an open, inclusive, consultative, co-operative, and consensual basis and will uphold the following fundamental principles:
5.1.1 All members are to be treated equally.
5.1.2 Decisions on all matters and issues will be made through a process of consensus building among all members. Consensus will be required of those members present when the decision is made.
5.1.3 IONS will focus on multilateral solutions.
5.1.4 All members accept the principles of equality, co-operation, and mutual benefit upon which this charter is based.
6.1 IONS will have two categories of membership, namely, 'Members' and 'Observers', explained below.
6.2.1 A nation state with permanently held territory that abuts or lies within the Indian Ocean and which maintains a Navy or maritime agency, and formally agrees to this Charter of Business, may become a member of IONS by making a formal application to the Chair of IONS.
6.2.2 Members will promote and support the purpose, aim and objectives of IONS and demonstrate willingness to contribute constructively by engaging other members and observers' navies or maritime agencies.
6.3.1 A Navy or maritime agency constituted by a nation state with permanently held territory that abuts or lies within the Indian Ocean may opt to be an IONS observer by making a formal application to the Chair of IONS.
6.3.2 A Navy or maritime agency constituted by a nation state without permanently held territory that abuts or lies within the Indian Ocean, but with significant strategic interest in the region, may qualify as an observer if it submits an application to the Chair of IONS for consideration at the next Conclave of Chiefs, and has its application agreed through consensus when the decision is made.
6.3.3 Observers will agree to support and encourage the purpose, aim, and objectives of IONS, and demonstrate willingness to contribute constructively by engaging other member and observer nations.
7.1 The co-chairs of IONS will be rotated every two years among members, with consensus on the selection of the Chair reached through mutual consultation.
7.2 The co-chairs may rotate in the following geographical order:
7.3 In the event of extreme impossibility, significant variances from these two Chairmanship principles should be duly canvassed and agreed upon in consultation with the members.
8.1 The Secretariat will rotate with the Chair and maintain a set of IONS Business Rules and Secretariat Guidelines. These documents will outline the detailed roles and responsibilities of the IONS Secretariat and the Secretariats for workshops or working group meetings. The Business Rules and Secretariat Guidelines are to be managed through the IPW process.
8.2 The Secretariat responsibilities will normally include:
9.1 All Members and Observers of IONS will have the following responsibilities:
10.1 An indicative (but not exhaustive) list of co-operative mechanisms and activities envisaged under the aegis of IONS includes:
10.1.1 Indian Ocean Naval Symposiums will be held once every two years, comprising an assembly of members and observers at the level of Chiefs of Navy. A standing invitation will be extended by the Secretariat to all nation states with permanently held territory that abuts or lies within the Indian Ocean, even if they are not yet part of the IONS community.
10.1.2 Each successive symposium will include a Conclave of the Chiefs of Navy (CoC). Observers may be included if consensus is reached among members.
10.1.3 For quorum to be considered valid in terms of decision-making, a CoC must:
10.1.4 In the years between Symposiums, an IONS Preparatory Workshop (IPW) will be held, with representation from both members and observers. These workshops will focus on discussing the theme and drafting the agenda for the next Conclave of Chiefs.
10.1.5 During the Conclave, members will designate the host country for the next two IPWs and the next two IONS Chairmanships. Additional Conclaves may be held between Symposiums.
10.2 Meetings of workshops and working groups on specific topics of interest to IONS may be conducted as required.
10.3 Exercises and associated planning meetings may occur as frequently as required. In order to make the exercises more purposeful, maximise participation and the sharing of knowledge, a joint exercise can be implemented annually in one of these areas: salvage, submarine rescue, search and rescue, HADR, counterpiracy etc. This annual exercise can be hosted and managed by one navy or several navies jointly. The host(s) need(s) to be nominated at each IPW / Conclave of Chiefs and be selected with consensus of members.
10.4 Other specialised maritime co-operation, such as, but not limited to hydrographic survey and marine meteorology, may be discussed at IONS.
10.5 Enhancement of collective awareness of the maritime domain.
11.1 As a general principle, attendees at various activities organised under IONS will normally be required to cover their own travel to and from the host country, as well as subsistence and local accommodation. Noting:
11.2 These general principles do not preclude financial assistance from any member or observer willing and able to fund or underwrite part or all of the expenses for one or more members or observers to attend or host any given IONS activity or set of activities.
12.1 The following stipulations govern the provision and sharing of any information regardless of form or type between Members and/or Observers. This includes, but is not limited to, scientific, technical, business, or financial data; photographs, reports, manuals, threat data, experimental and test data, designs, specifications, processes, techniques, inventions; drawings, technical writings, sound recordings, pictorial representations, and other graphical presentations, whether stored on magnetic tape, computer memory, or any other format, and whether or not subject to intellectual property rights or legal protections:
13.1 Members and observers will respect each other's intellectual property rights and refrain from any actions that could be construed as infringement. However, any member or observer may, while providing or sharing information and/or material, stipulate additional or more specific restrictive or prescriptive conditions to protect its intellectual property rights. All such conditions will be respected by all members and observers.
14.1 This Charter is non-legally binding in international law and does not create any legal rights or obligations between the members or observers.
15.1 Amendments to this charter may be proposed by any member. However, any amendment must be accepted through consensus by all members represented at the conclave of chiefs.
15.2 The version history is explained in the table below.
| Version | Date | Description of changes | Affected sections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 28 March 2014 | New document | All |
| 1.1 | 28 March 2014 | Footnote added | 5.1.1 |
| 2.0 | 13 January 2016 | Document review | All |
| 3.0 | 22 December 2023 | Document review | All |
| 3.1 | 20 Feburary 2026 | Document review - Inclusion of quorum clause | 10.1.3 |
| Glossary | |
|---|---|
| CoB | Charter of Business |
| CoC | Conclave of the Chiefs of Navy |
| HADR | Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief |
| IONS | Indian Ocean Naval Symposium |
| IOR | Indian Ocean Region |
| IPW | IONS Preparatory Workshop |
| ISI | Information Sharing and Interoperability |
| IWG | IONS Working Group |
| MarSec | Maritime Security |
| PoC | Point of Contact |
The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) is a voluntary initiative that brings together the navies of the Indian Ocean littoral states. Through dialogue, co-operation, and shared understanding, IONS fosters regional maritime security and stability across one of the world’s most strategic oceanic regions.
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