Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) was launched by India in November 2019 during the ASEAN-led East Asia Summit (EAS) in Bangkok.

KEY FEATURES:

  • Its primary aim is to promote cooperation for a free and open Indo-Pacific, reinforcing a rules-based regional order that enhances safety, stability, and development in the maritime domain.
  • This initiative follows the Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) policy, marking a significant shift in India’s engagement in the Indo-Pacific.
  • Non-Treaty-Based Arrangement:
IPOI operates as a voluntary, non-treaty framework focused on achieving greater cohesion and shared understanding among participant countries without establishing a new institutional framework. FRAMEWORK IPOI comprises seven pillars, each led by specific countries. The lead countries and their focus areas are:
  1. Maritime Security - United Kingdom and India
  2. Maritime Ecology - Australia and Thailand
  3. Maritime Resources - France and Indonesia
  4. Capacity Building and Resource Sharing - Germany
  5. Disaster Risk Reduction and Management - India and Bangladesh
  6. Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation - Italy and Singapore
  7. Trade, Connectivity and Maritime Transport - Japan and the United States

ACHIEVEMENTS & IMPACT

  • Alignment with Global Strategies: Many countries have established their own Indo-Pacific strategies, aligning them with the IPOI’s framework. This has facilitated the development of maritime partnerships and cooperation at various levels, including bilateral and trilateral.
  • Australia-India Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative Partnership (AIIPOIP): This partnership focuses on maritime ecology and is an example of bilateral cooperation stemming from the IPOI framework.

CHALLENGES & RELEVANCE

  • Evolving Strategic Environment: The Indo-Pacific region has seen geopolitical realignments, increased competition, and various maritime challenges, including piracy and climate-related issues. The oceans are vital to climate health, absorbing substantial solar energy and carbon dioxide.
  • Need for Adaptation: The strategic landscape demands that the IPOI's agenda for each pillar be updated to remain relevant and effective.

NEXT STEPS

  1. Vision and Agenda Development: A collective vision statement should be adopted based on multi stakeholder dialogues. Each pillar's leaders should outline a five-year plan to guide activities.
  1. Pillar-Specific Dialogues: Lead countries should facilitate regular dialogues for each pillar, potentially collaborating with other regional frameworks like EAS and IORA to advance agreed agendas.
  2. Inclusivity: Encourage participation from East African nations, GCC countries, and small island states to enhance IPOI's regional representation and effectiveness.