Maritime Security and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

Context

As India chairs the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), the organization is focusing on maritime safety and security amidst rising geopolitical tensions in West Asia (including the Red Sea and Hormuz Strait).

1. Key Highlights

• Security Concerns: Recent disruptions, including blockades and missile attacks, threaten energy and food security for littoral nations.
• Economic Impact: Disrupted sea lanes lead to increased fuel prices, airline disruptions (affecting tourism), and fertilizer shortages (impacting agriculture).
• Strategic Dialogue: The “Indian Ocean Dialogue” (Track 1.5) was recently co-hosted by India and the IORA Secretariat to address socio-economic impacts of regional conflicts.
• Membership Dynamics: Pakistan is notably absent from the grouping; its membership was previously blocked due to a failure to grant India “Most Favoured Nation” (MFN) status, violating IORA’s charter of sovereign equality.

2. Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

• Established: March 1997 (Originally known as the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative).
• Visionary Leader: Inspired by a concept proposed by Nelson Mandela.
• Headquarters: Ebene, Mauritius.
• Composition: Currently consists of 23 Member States and 12 Dialogue Partners.
• Governance: IORA Council of Ministers: Highest decision making body comprised of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (or equivalent) of all Member States which meets annually.

• The Charter: Emphasizes sovereign equality, territorial integrity, and peaceful coexistence. It explicitly excludes controversial bilateral issues from its formal deliberations.
• Priority Areas:
  1. Maritime Safety & Security
  2. Trade & Investment Facilitation
  3. Fisheries Management
  4. Disaster Risk Management
  5. Academic, Science & Technology
  6. Tourism & Cultural Exchanges
  7. Blue Economy
  8. Women’s Economic Empowerment

With reference to the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), consider the following statements:
1. It was established based on a proposal by Nelson Mandela in 1997.
2. Its headquarters are located in Jakarta, Indonesia.
3. Pakistan is one of the founding members of the association.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? 
(a) 1 only 
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A
Explanation:
•  Statement 1 is correct: The concept of IORA was indeed inspired by Nelson Mandela during his visit to India in 1995, where he proposed the idea of a maritime grouping. It was formally established in March 1997.
•  Statement 2 is incorrect: The Coordinating Secretariat (Headquarters) of the IORA is located in Ebene, Mauritius, not Jakarta. Indonesia hosted the first-ever IORA Summit in 2017, but it is not the permanent headquarters.
•  Statement 3 is incorrect: Pakistan is not a member of the IORA. As highlighted in the article, Pakistan's application for membership was historically blocked, primarily because it did not fulfill the criteria of "sovereign equality" by refusing to grant Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India.