India Assumes Chairmanship of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)

Context:
India took over the leadership of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) during the 9th Naval Chiefs’ Conference held in Visakhapatnam in February 2026.

Nature of the Platform:
IONS is a cooperative, non-binding and multilateral naval forum that brings together maritime forces of the Indian Ocean Region to foster trust and collective security.

Genesis:
Launched in 2008, the initiative was spearheaded by the Indian Navy with the objective of institutionalising naval engagement among Indian Ocean littoral states.

Evolution Over Time:
India served as the first Chair from 2008 to 2010. The responsibility later rotated among the UAE, South Africa, Australia, Bangladesh, Iran, France and Thailand. India’s return to the chairmanship in 2026 marks a renewed phase of regional maritime engagement.

Participation Profile:
The forum includes nearly 25 member states from the Indian Ocean Region. Observer nations and maritime partners also participate, extending IONS’ outreach from the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific region.

Core Objectives:
IONS aims to promote collective maritime stability, safeguard critical sea lines of communication and encourage coordinated naval responses to shared challenges. It also focuses on capacity building and professional interaction among regional navies.

Operational Framework:
A key feature of IONS is the regular Naval Chiefs’ Meetings, which facilitate strategic-level discussions on maritime security issues and future cooperation.
The forum also conducts the IONS Maritime Exercise (IMEX) to enhance operational coordination, interoperability and mutual trust among participating navies.

Functional Architecture:
Implementation of decisions is carried out through three domain-specific Working Groups:

• Disaster Response and Humanitarian Cooperation: Improves preparedness, coordination and rapid deployment mechanisms during maritime disasters.
• Regional Maritime Safety and Security: Addresses piracy, terrorism, armed robbery at sea and other illicit maritime activities.
• Data Exchange and Operational Compatibility: Strengthens information-sharing systems, common operating procedures and shared maritime situational awareness.

Strategic Relevance:
IONS enhances maritime domain awareness through cooperative surveillance and data exchange. It also institutionalises long-term naval cooperation via training initiatives, digital platforms and sustained professional engagement.