The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) is a multilateral maritime forum established in 2008 to enhance co-operation among the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region. Initiated by the Indian Navy, it provides an open and inclusive platform for regional navies to engage constructively, exchange information, and foster mutual understanding to address shared challenges and contribute to regional stability.

IONS promotes collaboration through interactions among Chiefs of Navies, working groups, professional exchanges, maritime exercises, and seminars. Its activities strengthen interoperability, build confidence, and advance co-operation in areas such as maritime security, domain awareness, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), capacity building, and information sharing, while respecting sovereignty and international law. Successive Chairmanships- India, UAE, South Africa, Australia, Bangladesh, Iran, France, and Thailand have steadily reinforced IONS as a key mechanism for dialogue and trust.

Building on this foundation, IONS is evolving towards greater practical co-operation, enabling co-ordinated engagement and collective responses to humanitarian, safety, and security challenges in the region. Activities are driven by specialised Working Groups (IWGs), which translate high-level guidance into concrete initiatives. Three IWGs currently function: HADR, Maritime Security (MARSEC), and Information Sharing & Interoperability (IS&I). India and Iran co-chair HADR and MARSEC, while Australia and France co-chair IS&I, ensuring balanced responsibility.

The HADR Group develops mechanisms and best practices for rapid disaster response, enhancing jointness through meetings and tabletop exercises. The MARSEC Group addresses piracy, terrorism, trafficking, and other threats to maritime order, fostering shared experiences and co-operative patrols. The IS&I Group advances domain awareness through information-sharing arrangements, compatible protocols, and interoperable procedures, supporting regional networks and co-ordinated operational responses based on a shared situational picture.