US inducted as dialogue partner in Indian Ocean Rim grouping

[Agent_47]

The U.S. was on Friday inducted as a dialogue partner in the 20-nation Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) grouping, following hectic back-door diplomacy led by India.

The decision to induct the U.S. as the sixth dialogue partner was taken at the Ministerial Meeting of the grouping in Gurgaon. The other five dialogue partners are — China, Japan, the U.K., France and Egypt.

The induction process came following a request from the U.S., which had applied for the status of a dialogue partner a few months back. The U.S. had also taken up the matter with India, the current Chair of the Association, during the Indo-U.S. Strategic Dialogue in June in Washington.

A document containing the U.S. request was then sent out to all member states about two months back seeking their comments.

While India was open to the U.S. request, Iran, a member-country, had expressed “some concerns” over induction of Washington.

However, there was hectic back-room diplomacy which saw India pushing the U.S. case and working overtime to work out a consensus decision.

The U.S. is keen to get a footing in the key grouping, not because of economic reasons but more due to its re-engagement with Asia and to push for its ‘pivot to Asia’ policy.

Official sources said that since the grouping is of considerable economic and strategic importance, the U.S. wanted to be part of it.

The prominent members of the grouping, which also saw entry of a new member- Comoros Islands, an archipelago of four islands and several islets located in the western Indian Ocean, are India, Australia, South Africa, Oman, the U.A.E., Thailand, Singapore, Iran, Kenya, Indonesia, Mauritius and Malaysia.

Incidentally, many of these countries share close security ties with the U.S.

Indian Ocean is vital for the transportation of oil and conduct of global trade.

The Hindu : News / National : US inducted as dialogue partner in Indian Ocean Rim grouping

 

[Tshering22]

Wonder how come Russians weren't interested in the region at all.

 

[Gessler]

Wonder how come Russians weren't interested in the region at all.

Presently the Russians are more interested in drilling oil out of South China Sea in disputed
regions, much to China's distaste!

 

[illusion8]

Presently the Russians are more interested in drilling oil out of South China Sea in disputed
regions, much to China's distaste!

South China Sea is a mess - quite contrary to what we see here in the Indian Ocean Rim.

 

[WHITESMOKE]

Seems India is blocking all possible future access to China in Indian ocean. Sometimes I think does China even realises how much damange it has done to its future relations with India with that "string of pearls" strategy. China wasnt even finished with south China sea mess and it was trying to get involved into IOR. Now India has also jumped south China sea and same time its making it difficult for China to deal with Indian Ocean. Surely Chanakya neeti.

 

[trinity]

Seems India is blocking all possible future access to China in Indian ocean. Sometimes I think does China even realises how much damange it has done to its future relations with India with that "string of pearls" strategy. China wasnt even finished with south China sea mess and it was trying to get involved into IOR. Now India has also jumped south China sea and same time its making it difficult for China to deal with Indian Ocean. Surely Chanakya neeti.

China had a plan....it never expected India to wake up out of its slumber.....thats the truth. Post 2000, China had a clear intention it could nail India .......that changed drastically.....Good for India.