View source for Earth:Indian Ocean Naval Symposium

The '''Indian Ocean Naval Symposium''' ('''IONS''') is a series of biennial meetings between the littoral states of the [[Earth:Indian Ocean|Indian Ocean region]]. It provides a forum to increase maritime security cooperation,discuss regional maritime issues, and promote friendly relationships among the member states.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=About IONS|url=http://www.ions.global/|access-date=2017-11-28|website=Indian Ocean Naval Symposium}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Indian Ocean Naval Symposium|url=http://www.navy.gov.au/ions|access-date=2017-11-28|website=Royal Australian Navy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i0YKDQAAQBAJ&q=maldives+IONS&pg=PT154|title=The Indo Pacific Region: Security Dynamics and Challenges|last1=Tewari|first1=Sharad|last2=Khanijo|first2=Dr Roshan|date=2016-10-10|publisher=Vij Books India Pvt Ltd|isbn=9789385563300|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Joj7CwAAQBAJ&q=Indian+ocean+naval+symposium&pg=PA32|title=Indian Ocean Regionalism|last1=Rumley|first1=Dennis|last2=Doyle|first2=Timothy|date=2016-04-14|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317585978|language=en}}</ref>
==History==
The symposium was first held in 2008 with India as host.<ref>{{Cite news|date=13 August 2017|title=India, China to join Indian Ocean exercise|work=Defence Reporter|agency=The Hindu|url=http://defencereporter.com/navy/india-china-to-join-indian-ocean-exercise_92146.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090930/http://defencereporter.com/navy/india-china-to-join-indian-ocean-exercise_92146.html|archive-date=27 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Limaye|first=Satu|date=April 2017|title=Weighted West, Focused on the Indian Ocean and Cooperating across the Indo-Pacific: The Indian Navy's New Maritime Strategy, Capabilities, and Diplomacy|url=https://www.cna.org/cna_files/pdf/DRM-2016-U-013939-Final2.pdf|publisher=CNA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://lkyspp2.nus.edu.sg/cag/publication/china-india-brief/china-india-brief-99 |title=China-India Brief #99 &#124; Centre on Asia and Globalization |access-date=2018-04-23 |archive-date=2018-01-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121071446/http://lkyspp2.nus.edu.sg/cag/publication/china-india-brief/china-india-brief-99 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>journals.christuniversity.in/index.php/artha/article/download/1569/1314</ref>

The chairmanship and location of the Symposium rotates between the various member states.

== Role ==
IONS is a security construct for the [[Earth:Indian Ocean|Indian Ocean region]] which is similar to the [[Earth:Western Pacific Naval Symposium|Western Pacific Naval Symposium]]. It is a voluntary initiative among the navies and maritime security agencies of the member nations. In addition to the symposiums, numerous other activities like workshops, essay competitions and lectures are also held under the umbrella of the organization.<ref name=":0" />

== Members and observers ==
[[File:Indian Ocean Naval Symposium.png|thumb|Indian Ocean Naval Symposium<br />Dark blue = member States<br />Light blue = observers]]
The 25 member nations of the IONS are grouped into four sub-regions.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ions.global/ions-working-groups|title=IONS Working Groups {{!}} Indian Ocean Naval Symposium|website=www.ions.global|access-date=2017-11-28}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=Mahmud|first=Tarek|date=27 November 2017|title=President inaugurates 32-nation naval exercise|url=http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/foreign-affairs/2017/11/27/president-inaugurates-naval-exercise/|access-date=2017-11-28|publisher=Dhaka Tribune}}</ref>

=== Members ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Sub region
!Member
!Accession
|-
| rowspan="6" |South Asian
|{{flag|Bangladesh}}
|
|-
|{{flag|India}}
|February 2008
|-
|{{flag|Maldives}}
|
|-
|{{flag|Pakistan}}
|March 2014<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/10-nation-indian-ocean-naval-symposium-ends-in-pakistan-117072601548_1.html|title=10-nation Indian Ocean Naval Symposium ends in Pakistan|last=IANS|date=2017-07-26|work=Business Standard India|access-date=2017-11-28}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Seychelles}}
|
|-
|{{flag|Sri Lanka}}
|
|-
| rowspan="5" |West Asian
|{{flag|Iran}}
|
|-
|{{flag|Oman}}
|
|-
|{{flag|Saudi Arabia}}
|
|-
|{{flag|Qatar}}
|
|-
|{{flag|UAE}}
|
|-
| rowspan="7" |East African
|{{flag|France}}<ref group=upper-alpha name="jb">Because of Mayotte and Réunion.</ref>
|
|-
|{{flag|Kenya}}
|
|-
|{{flag|Mauritius}}
|
|-
|{{flag|Mozambique}}
|
|-
|{{flag|South Africa}}
|
|-
|{{flag|Tanzania}}
|
|-
|{{flag|Eritrea}}
|
|-
| rowspan="7" |South East Asian and Australian
|{{flag|Australia}}
|
|-
|{{flag|Indonesia}}
|
|-
|{{flag|Malaysia}}
|
|-
|{{flag|Myanmar}}
|
|-
|{{flag|Singapore}}
|
|-
|{{flag|Thailand}}
|
|-
|{{flag|Timor Leste}}
|
|}
{{reflist|group=upper-alpha}}

=== Observers ===
There are eight states with observer status:{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}
*{{flag|China}} 
*{{flag|Germany}} 
*{{flag|Italy}} 
*{{flag|Japan}} 
*{{flag|Madagascar}} 
*{{flag|Netherlands}} 
*{{flag|Russia}} 
*{{flag|Spain}}

== List of symposiums ==
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Edition
!Host
!Dates
!Notes
|-
|2008
|1st
|{{flag|India}}
|14–16 February 2008
|
|-
|2010
|2nd
|{{flag|United Arab Emirates}}
|10–12 May 2010
|
|-
|2012
|3rd
|{{flag|South Africa}}
|10–14 April 2012
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ions.gov.in/content/indian-ocean-naval-symposium-2012|title=Indian Ocean Naval Symposium - 2012 {{!}} Indian Ocean Naval Symposium|website=ions.gov.in|language=en|access-date=2017-11-28}}</ref>
|-
|2014
|4th
|{{flag|Australia}}
|26 March 2014
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ions.gov.in/content/indian-ocean-naval-symposium-2014|title=Indian Ocean Naval Symposium - 2014 {{!}} Indian Ocean Naval Symposium|website=ions.gov.in|language=en|access-date=2017-11-28}}</ref>
|-
|2016
|5th
|{{flag|Bangladesh}}
|11–13 January 2016
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-01/11/c_134998557.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126013716/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-01/11/c_134998557.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 26, 2016|title=5th biennial assembly of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium kicks off in Bangladeshi capital - Xinhua {{!}} English.news.cn|website=news.xinhuanet.com|access-date=2017-11-28}}</ref>
|-
|2018
|6th
|{{flag|Iran}}
|22–25 April 2018
|<ref name="ionsirannavy">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ionsirannavy.ir/|title=Indian Ocean Naval Symposium}}</ref>
|-
|2020
|7th
|{{flagicon|France}} Mayotte and Réunion
|April 2020
|<ref name="ionsirannavy" />
|}
|8th
|{{flagicon|Thailand}} [[Place:Bangkok|Bangkok]] 
|Dec 19-22 2023
|<ref name="ionsirannavy" />
|}
The 7th edition of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium was held at Réunion, {{wipe|France}}. But during that, it was agreed upon to conduct the extant conclave of Chiefs in [[Place:Paris|Paris]]. Eventually  in November 2021 the conclave was concluded in [[Place:Paris|Paris]], {{wipe|France}}.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Indian Ocean]]

{{Sourceattribution|Indian Ocean Naval Symposium}}