Shakti DubeyAIR 1 · CSE 2024 · 255 wordsTheir whole copy
Opening
Indian Ocean has in recent times emerged as a new chessboard of geopolitics, with great powers like USA, China, Russia all eyeing on establishing their control on the region.
Body · points and prose
Indian Ocean Rim Association:
This is an intergovernmental association of member states that:- (1) Came into existence in 1997 (2) Focus is on enhancing cooperation among member states (3) The aim is work together in areas like
- maritime security
- Trade collaboration
- harnessing potential eg:- exploration of the ocean bed - Polymetallic nodules
- maintaining saftey & security
in the region.
The member nations lie in the Area of influence in and around the Indian Ocean → It also includes countries like Britain, France, USA, etc → signifying the importance of this region → Pakistan & china are not its members
Importance of IORA for India :-
(1) In recent time there has been growing incursion of china in the IOR with its bases like- → Hambantota port (Sri lanka) → Gawadar port (Pakistan) → Military Base (Djibouti), etc this has been growing cause of concern for India
(2) China through it's string of pearl policy is trying to encircle India
In this backdrop such multilateral cooperation initiatives will help India tackle the china problems
(3) The IOR is also significant for hosting major choke points for trade eg:- Bab al Mandeb, Malacca strait, etc
(4) The region around horn of africa suffers from issue of piracy
Close · a way forward
These intergovernmental initiatives like IORA will help India tackle these challenges & ensure Free and open Indo-pacific.