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Summary

IONS - Updated Layout

Working Groups

🛡️

MarSec

Maritime Security

⚓

HADR

Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief

📡

IS&I

Information Sharing and Interoperability

Aim

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.

Objectives
  • 1. Promote Shared Understanding: Encourage collective awareness of the diverse maritime issues confronting Indian Ocean littoral states and foster dialogue for regional security strategies.
  • 2. Strengthen Capabilities: Enhance the ability of member states to address both current and emerging maritime security challenges through co-operation and capacity building.
  • 3. Establish Co-operative Mechanisms: Create multilateral frameworks and initiatives that mitigate maritime security concerns and build trust among members.
  • 4. Develop Interoperability in Doctrines and Procedures: Standardised and align operational doctrines, communication protocols, and procedures to ensure seamless collaboration during joint maritime efforts.
  • 5. Enable Effective Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR): Build readiness for rapid, co-ordinated, and efficient disaster response across the Indian Ocean Region, ensuring timely humanitarian support.
Fundamental Principles
    IONS will function in an open, inclusive, consultative, co-operative and consensual basis, and will uphold the following fundamental principles:

  • Equality: All members are to be treated equally.
  • Decisions: Decisions on all matters and issues will be decided through a process of consensus building amongst all members. Consensus will be required of those members present when the decision is made.
  • Multilateralism: IONS will focus on multilateral solutions.
  • Shared Values: All members accept the principles of equality, co-operation and mutual benefit upon which this charter is based.
Chairmanship
  • The Chair of IONS will be rotated every two years amongst members, with consensus on the selection of the Chair reached through mutual consultation.
  • The Chair may rotate in the following geographical order:
    (i) South Asian
    (ii) West Asian
    (iii) East African; and
    (iv) South East Asian and Australian Littorals.
  • In the event of extreme impossibility, significant variances from these two Chairmanship principles should be duly canvassed and agreed in consultation with the members.
Members and Observers

List of Members and Observers

Member Nation Effective From
Australia10 May 2014
Bangladesh04 July 2014
France10 March 2015
India10 March 2015
Indonesia28 February 2015
Iran10 November 2014
Kenya16 March 2015
Malaysia09 December 2015
Maldives25 April 2018
Mauritius22 October 2014
Mozambique16 March 2015
Myanmar26 November 2014
Oman31 August 2014
Pakistan27 October 2014
Qatar29 June 2021
Saudi Arabia24 August 2014
Seychelles28 November 2014
Singapore05 August 2014
South Africa27 October 2014
Sri Lanka20 October 2014
Tanzania10 June 2014
Thailand19 December 2014
Timor Leste04 December 2014
United Arab Emirates11 November 2014
United Kingdom18 June 2014
View All Members
Observer Nation Effective From
China 28 March 2014
Germany 13 January 2016
Italy 13 January 2016
Japan 28 March 2014
Madagascar 23 March 2015
Netherlands 13 January 2016
Republic of Korea 22 December 2023
Russia 13 January 2016
Spain 13 January 2016
View All Observers
IONS Working Groups

IONS Working Groups

Maritime Security (MarSec)

The Maritime Security (MarSec) Working Groups threats like piracy, trafficking, and illegal fishing while integrating environmental concerns and validating tactical frameworks.

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HADR Group

The Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Working Groups enhances preparedness and rapid response to natural disasters through joint exercises and interoperability.

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Info Sharing & Interoperability

The Information Sharing & Interoperability (IS&I) Working Groups builds mechanisms for timely data exchange and harmonized procedures, ensuring synergy with other groups.

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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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