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Visakhapatnam: India has formally assumed the Chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) at the 9th Conclave of Chiefs, held in Visakhapatnam and attended by naval leaders and heads of maritime security agencies from 33 countries.
Indian Ocean Naval Symposium: India Assumes Chairmanship at 9th Conclave in Visakhapatnam.
The high-level gathering brought together representatives from IONS member states, observers, and other Indian Ocean littoral nations. Participation spanning regions from the Atlantic to the Pacific underlined the growing convergence among navies committed to enhancing maritime cooperation and ensuring stability across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
In a significant transition, the Indian Navy assumed the Chairmanship from the Royal Thai Navy, marking India’s return to the leadership role after 16 years. India had earlier held the inaugural Chairmanship of the forum from 2008 to 2010. The change in leadership is seen as a pivotal moment as IONS continues to evolve into a key platform for professional maritime collaboration.
Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff and current Chair of IONS, outlined India’s forward-looking vision for the forum. He emphasized strengthening the functional relevance of IONS by reinforcing its Working Groups on Maritime Security, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), and Information Sharing and Interoperability. These working groups are expected to serve as the primary engines of practical cooperation among member navies.
Among the key developments at the Conclave was the launch of an upgraded IONS website, developed by the Indian Navy to improve usability, enhance institutional continuity, and enable secure engagement among participating countries.
The forum also expanded its outreach, with the Philippines being admitted as an Observer and Oman joining the IONS Working Group on HADR, broadening the collaborative scope of the organization.
During its tenure, India announced several initiatives aimed at deepening operational and professional engagement. These include conducting the IONS Maritime Exercise (IMEX), continuing deployments of IOS SAGAR to member nations with participation from IONS navies and maritime security agencies, and organizing structured Maritime Information Sharing Workshops and dialogues to boost interoperability and capability development.
The 9th Conclave signals a renewed phase for IONS as India takes the helm, with a focus on expanded engagement, strengthened cooperation, and a collective commitment to maritime stability in the strategically significant Indian Ocean Region.
