US wants to join Indian Ocean group

[arp2041]

Even Pakistan has expressed its desire to join the group in the past.


The US has shown interest in becoming a dialogue partner in the Indian Ocean grouping, the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC). The US request is being considered by the members of the forum.

India has been chairing the forum for the past two years, and its term will come to an end next year, when Australia will take over from India. There are 19 member nations, from across three continents, and five dialogue partners. Dialogue partners are non-members, who only participate in open discussions and are not part of decision making. They are not invited in closed discussions. Pakistan too has shown interest in the IOR-ARC, but there is a clause in the charter of the grouping which says that a country can be considered only if it extends equal treatment to other member nations. So, to be eligible, Pakistan will have to give India the most favored nation status.

Refusing to divulge details about US' request, a source said, "The US request is recent, and is being looked into very seriously, and most probably it will be done this time. All decisions are through consensus by all members of IOR-ARC."

At this year's 12th IOR-ARC Council of Ministers Meeting, from 29 October – 2 November, one of the thrust areas would be checking piracy at sea, as 80% of the world's trade passes through the Indian Ocean route, which has been infested with piracy lately. Other areas are maritime safety and security, trade and investment, fisheries management, disaster risk reduction, academic cooperation, and tourism promotion.

"Maritime safety and piracy will be taken up in a big way through seminars. UAE did it this year, India will do it next year to discuss all aspects like hostages and crisis management," said a source from the Ministry of External Affairs.

Meanwhile Defence Minister A.K. Antony has underlined the key role of the Indian Navy with countries of Indian Ocean Region. Addressing the biannual Naval Commanders' Conference this week, Antony said, "Our government is pursuing a string of proactive engagements with countries in the Indian Ocean region to ensure peace and stability, which is also related to our economic and wider security interests."

US wants to join Indian Ocean group

 

[peep]

never knew about such a group !!! cool !!

 

[arp2041]

never knew about such a group !!! cool !!

Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a grouping started on Indian (Navy) initiative, India is the leading voice here, i guess no membership can be given without approval from India, this can be seen by the fact that Pakistan is not it's member even when it is an Indian Ocean region country, not even a dialogue partner.

 

[Mercenary]

What is the purpose of this group? and how much power does it actually have to shape geo-political events?

 

[arp2041]

What is the purpose of this group? and how much power does it actually have to shape geo-political events?

Indian Ocean Rim - Association for regional cooperation or IOR-ARC, is the regional grouping of the Indian Ocean Rim countries for basically 4 key components - trade liberalization, trade and investment facilitation, economic and technical co-operation and initiating trade and investment dialogue. Also the grouping helps in establishing maritime security in the Indian ocean. Currently the group just helps as a facilitator between the member nations for sustainable overall development but with Indian Ocean fast becoming one of the important maritime highway of trade & commerce, this 15 years old grouping is bound to become more stronger with time, as can be seen by the fact that US also wants to join the group as a dialogue partner.

for further read:

http://66.147.244.232/~lifeats1/ram...ns/other_policy_briefs_and_opeds/2009/IOR.pdf

http://www.eximbankindia.com/op/op157.pdf

 

[Abingdonboy]

Its seems to be mostly about trade with a little maritime security thrown in. It certainly seems India dominates this group. And this is demonstrated by be case of Paksitan that is notable for its absence. India's tentacles are certainly spreading. Even the US has come to the table!

 

[sasi]

It is bad idea to allow usa. We are the heavy wt in the group. We don't want to lose our position to usa. Australia and others may eventually jump in to debunk us.
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China may blackmail us for exchange of shanghi co., group. Since we allow usa.
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We should told them,that it is exclusively for only Indian ocean countries.
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It should be noted,RIM is mainly formed to have a some kind of control over maritime safety and security of Indian ocean region. We shouldn't mess it up.

 

[SpArK]

Full members Date of accession

1. Australia March 1995
2. Bangladesh March 1999
3. India March 1995
4. Indonesia September 1996
5. Iran March 1999
6. Kenya March 1995
7. Madagascar September 1996
8. Malaysia September 1996
9. Mauritius March 1995
10. Mozambique September 1996
11. Oman March 1995
12. Seychelles November 2011
13. Singapore March 1995
14. South Africa March 1995
15. Sri Lanka September 1996
16. Tanzania September 1996
17. Thailand March 1999
18. United Arab Emirates March 1999
19. Yemen September 1996

Countries with the status of dialogue partners are:

1. China
2. Egypt
3. France
4. Japan
5. United Kingdom

Turkey has applied for dialogue partner status

 

[Kyusuibu Honbu]

China may blackmail us for exchange of shanghi co., group. Since we allow usa.

Can't do that as Russia presence in SCO doesn't allow that.

 

[Srinivas]

This would be a good forum for US and other countries to provide poverty relief to india

India is going to dominate Vast Indian Ocean there is no question about it.

Think about your own country, With out USA Taiwan is a history against CCP.

 

[DroneMailini]

Just Say Om America, Jai America and Join the Club, Get Latest Technologies.

 

[SpArK]

Indian Ocean group is just a group which India is a member.

We dont own the group.

 

[arp2041]

Indian Ocean group is just a group which India is a member.

We dont own the group.

Exactly.

Same as US is just a member of NATO but does not own the group

cmon sparky, there is a reason i posted this article in Indian Defence section

 

[manofwar]

Indian Ocean group is just a group which India is a member.

We dont own the group.

With what the longest coastline in IOR, the largest economy in it, combined with our central position, we do command a lot of authority and power in the Group........

 

[SpArK]

Exactly.

Same as US is just a member of NATO but does not own the group

Not same..

Or else you point to me more on this group and India's activities on it .

With what the longest coastline in IOR, the largest economy in it, combined with our central position, we do command a lot of authority and power in the Group........

You too show me some examples of lot of authority and power in the Group