Indian-Ocean Rim Association to discuss Indo-Pacific concept in Mauritius meet

The Indian-Ocean Rim Association (IORA) will be discussing the Indo-Pacific concept this week in a meet in Mauritius to understand the scope and impact of the concept on the grouping.

IORA, a group of 22 countries who share their shores with Indian ocean, are keen to understand the geopolitical construct that has the backing of New Delhi and Washington and is increasingly gaining currency in the region.

Speaking to WION in Pretoria, Antoinette Rademan, director of IORA at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) of South African foreign ministry said, "There was a request...for members to discuss it. This is taking place this week in a geostrategic workshop."

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Adding, "We have to take cognisance of developments such as the Indo-pacific concept for which we have a workshop."

Delhi and Washington consider themselves as the bookends of the Indo-Pacific region. The US last year even changed the name of its largest naval command, US Pacific command, to 'Indo-Pacific Command'to give a boost to the growing concept.

China is deeply suspicious of the concept and sees it as its encirclement and refuses to recognise it.

Describing India's vision for Indo-Pacific, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking at the Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore last year said, for New Delhi, the concept stands for "Inclusiveness, openness and ASEAN centrality."

ASEAN is also discussing the concept.Thailand which assumed the chairmanship of ASEAN this year said that the grouping is working on a common approach for the Indo-Pacific concept.

"ASEAN is working on a common approach on an Indo-Pacific concept that complements existing frameworks such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association or IORA," Thai foreign minister Don Pramudwinai.