India assumes IONS chairmanship after 16 years

• India has assumed the chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) from the Royal Thai Navy after a gap of 16 years.

• India had earlier held the inaugural chairmanship from 2008 to 2010.

• India assumed the role during the 9th Conclave of Chiefs held in Visakhapatnam.

• Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi took over as Chair of IONS at the conclave, which brought together chiefs of navies and heads of maritime security agencies from 33 countries, including members, observers and other Indian Ocean littoral nations.

• The Philippines was inducted as an Observer, while Oman joined the IONS Working Group on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, expanding the forum’s cooperative framework.

• India outlined initiatives planned during its tenure, including conduct of the IONS Maritime Exercise (IMEX) and continued deployment of IOS SAGAR to member countries with participation of personnel from IONS navies and maritime security agencies onboard.

• Participation in the conclave spanned countries from the Atlantic to the Pacific, reflecting expanding alignment among navies committed to maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.

What is the purpose of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium?

• Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) is a voluntary forum uniting the navies of the Indian Ocean Region. 

• It was launched by the Indian Navy on February 14, 2008 at New Delhi. 

• It promotes maritime cooperation, mutual understanding and collaboration on issues such as Maritime Security and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).

• IONS provides an open and inclusive forum for discussion on regionally relevant maritime issues and seeks to promote the flow of information among naval professionals to foster common understanding and cooperative solutions.

• It currently comprises 25 member navies and nine observer nations and has evolved into a credible multilateral framework promoting trust, transparency and practical collaboration.

• The chairmanship rotates among member countries for a two-year term and includes one Conclave of Chiefs and one Preparatory Workshop during each cycle.

• Activities under IONS are conducted through three Working Groups, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, Maritime Security, and Information Sharing and Interoperability.

• These groups focus on disaster response coordination, addressing piracy and maritime threats, and enhancing Maritime Domain Awareness through structured information-sharing mechanisms.