Page 6 - Indian Ocean

Cooperation in Indian Ocean must be inclusive: Maldives at China Forum

The new Maldives government on Friday said cooperation in the Indian Ocean must include all countries in the region and avoid factionalism to bring about development among the ocean communities in the area. Addressing the China-sponsored second conference of the Indian Ocean Region Forum in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province in southwest China, Maldives Vice President Hussain Mohamed Latheef said his country stands ready to forge stronger bonds, share expertise, and work hand in hand towards a resilient and prosperous Indian Ocean Region. Since the Maldives graduated from the list of Least Developed Countries in 2011, it has sought to strengthen its partnerships in the Indian Ocean and beyond to contribute to peaceful co-existence and prosperity in the region, he said. Cooperation in the Indian Ocean must be inclusive, without discrimination and must include all countries in the region, he said. Inclusivity would alleviate factionalism and contribute to the development and ...

China to hold 2nd Indian Ocean Region Forum to firm up influence in India

China this week will hold the second conference of its Indian Ocean Region Forum, an initiative to bring together several countries in the region in an attempt to solidify its influence in the strategic waters adjacent to India's backyard. Last year the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), an organisation part of the ruling Communist Party of China's Leadership Group, held a meeting of the China-Indian Ocean Region Forum on Development Cooperation (CIORFDC) in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province in southwest China. CIDCA is headed by Luo Zhaohui, the former Vice Foreign Minister and ex-Ambassador to India. The CIDCA claimed 19 countries including Indonesia, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal, Afghanistan, Iran, Oman, South Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Seychelles, Madagascar, Mauritius, Djibouti, Australia took part in the conference. Australia and Maldives subsequently denied their participation. India was not invited to the

Advanced fishing nations must take responsibility for tuna damage: India

India on Monday said that advanced fishing nations must take responsibility for the damage caused to the Indian Ocean tuna stocks. Addressing virtually the concluding session of the 19th Working Party on Data Collection and Statistics of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala said the recent surge in industrial fishing by some nations has raised concerns globally. While many nations allowed their gigantic industrial fleets to exploit and deplete the Indian Ocean's tuna wealth, India maintained fleets of modest size operating with passive gear and leaving minimal footprints in the seascape, he said. "The impact of advanced fishing nations on global tuna stocks, especially in the high seas, is undeniable," he said. Recent research indicates that high seas fisheries, in their current scale, heavily rely on large government subsidies. Stating that the surge in industrial fishing has posed challenges to the ...

India to add $5 bn aircraft carrier to counter China's naval presence

The new carrier, which can hold at least 28 fighter jets and helicopters and displaces 45,000 tons of water - a measure of size for ships, will be flying the French Rafale jets

Israeli ship targeted in suspected Iranian attack in Indian Ocean: Report

A container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire came under attack by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean as Israel wages war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip, an American defense official said Saturday. The attack Friday on the CMA CGM Symi comes as global shipping increasingly finds itself targeted in the weeks long war that threatens to become a wider regional conflict even as a truce has halted fighting and Hamas exchanges hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The defense official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said the Malta-flagged vessel was suspected to have been targeted by a triangle-shaped, bomb-carrying Shahed-136 drone while in international waters. The drone exploded, causing damage to the ship but not injuring any of its crew. We continue to monitor the situation closely, the official said. The official declined to elaborate on what intelligence the U.S. military gathered to assess Iran w

Indian Navy chief offers to run warship training hub for regional states

In order to bring together like-minded maritime nations of South and South Eastern Asia, the Indian Navy began hosting the Goa Maritime Conclave

Indian Navy keeping watch on Chinese counterpart in IOR, says Vice Admiral

The Indian Navy is monitoring the developments in West Asia and also keeping a sharp watch on the Chinese Navy's activities in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) by the hour, a top Navy officer said on Wednesday in the context of the escalating Hamas-Israel conflict. Replying to a host of questions in a session at the Global Maritime India Summit 2023 here, Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, who heads the crucial Western Naval Command, said the Navy is fully aware of Chinese activities in the IOR or possible ripple effects of what is happening in West Asia. There is constantlyat this point of time there is someone in the naval headquarters or the command headquarters working on what could happen after whatever is happening in West Asia (a reference to the Hamas-Israel conflict)," he said. The vice admiral said as far as the Chinese are concerned, we are keeping a sharp watch on whatever they are doing in the South China Sea. "In the Indian Ocean, we are keeping a sharp watch as to where thei

Important to maintain Indian Ocean as open, inclusive space: EAM Jaishankar

India on Wednesday asked the countries in the Indian Ocean region to effectively address the development challenges as it warned them to be clear of the dangers of "hidden agendas" in unviable projects or unsustainable debt, in an apparent reference to China which is accused by the West of "debt trap" diplomacy. Speaking at the 23rd Council of Ministers Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) here, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that it is important to maintain the Indian Ocean as a free, open and inclusive space based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS), as the Constitution of the Seas. Later in his remarks to the press, Jaishankar said India's commitment to the IORA is deeply rooted in the principles of peaceful coexistence, shared prosperity, and regional collaboration. "For Member States to grow and prosper, development challenges must be continuously and effectively addressed. In particular, we should cooperate on various aspects of the

Respect for sovereignty remains foundation for reviving Indian Ocean: EAM

India on Wednesday said a multilateral rules-based international order, along with sincere respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity remains the foundation for reviving the Indian Ocean as a strong community, in a veiled attack on China which is flexing its muscles in the region. Speaking at the 23rd Council of Ministers Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) here, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also said that it is important to maintain the Indian Ocean as a free, open and inclusive space based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS), as the Constitution of the Seas. "We will continue our approach of contributing to build capacity and secure safety and security in the Indian Ocean region including as first responder and a net security provider," Jaishankar said as India assumed the Vice-Chair role of IORA for 2023-25 at the crucial meeting. "A multilateral rules-based international order, along with sincere respect for sovereignty and ...

Navy commences mega disaster relief exercise in the Indian Ocean

Exercise Chakravat forms a key component in the Navy's benign role, as climate change has significantly increased vulnerability of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to natural disasters

Maldives election: The implications of pro-China Muizzu's win for India

In a pivotal election in the Maldives, opposition candidate Mohamed Muizzu has triumphed over incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, signalling potential geopolitical shifts in the Indian Ocean region.

Navy to host workshop on sharing information on the Indian Ocean

The regional maritime security community will review progress in this initiative after gathering in Gurgaon for the Maritime Information Sharing Workshop 2023 (MISW 23)

Sri Lanka key partner in free and open Indo-Pacific: Japan's Yoshimasa

Sri Lanka with its location at a strategic juncture along the sea lanes of the Indian Ocean is an important partner in realising a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa said here on Saturday. Yoshimasa arrived here late on Friday on a two-day visit to the island nation after meetings in New Delhi. He held talks with President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Saturday, amidst China's aggressive investment projects in the cash-strapped nation. At today's (Saturday's) meeting, I explained about the new plan for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced in March this year," he said. Yoshimasa was referring to the Japanese prime minister's statement that Japan attaches importance to cooperation with the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) to be chaired by Sri Lanka in October this year. The US, India and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving ...

Indian Ocean's 'gravity hole' opens doors to secrets of Earth's origin

According to a study, the 'gravity hole' took its current shape around 20 million years ago and will likely last millions more

Indian Navy form 'Ocean Ring of Yoga' on 9th International Yoga Day

Naval ships deployed in the Indian Ocean region are visiting ports of friendly foreign countries and spreading the message of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' on International Day of Yoga forming an 'Ocean Ring of Yoga', the Indian Navy said on Wednesday. Yoga day events and activities are being conducted on Indian naval ships, including Kiltan, Chennai, Shivalik, Sunayna, Trishul, Tarkash, Vagir, Sumitra and Brahmaputra -- all of which are deployed in the Indian Ocean Region. Port calls by Indian naval ships include those at Chattogram in Bangladesh, Safaga in Egypt, Jakarta in Indonesia, Mombasa in Kenya, Toamasina in Madagascar, Muscat in Oman, Colombo in Sri Lanka, Phuket in Thailand and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, where yoga sessions are being organised in accordance with the "Common Yoga Protocol". Nearly 3,500 naval personnel on board 19 Indian Navy ships have travelled more than 35,000 kilometres as ambassadors of yoga in both national and international waters, the Indian Navy

Pak to examine Iran's Indian Ocean alliance proposal maritime security

Pakistan has said it will examine the proposal floated by Iran with regard to forming an Indian Ocean naval alliance aimed at ensuring collective maritime security, media reports said.

UNCLOS violation damages trust; Choke points in IOR crucial: Dy NSA Misri

Indian Deputy NSA sent out an indirect message about the Chinese activity in the South China Sea at Shangri La dialogue

Indian navy flies to rescue of Chinese fishermen in Southern Indian Ocean

However, naval sources say that the location and rescue of any fishermen has so far been prevented by severe weather conditions

2,500 kg of drugs worth Rs 12,000 cr seized by NCB, Navy in Indian waters

In a massive drug bust, nearly 2,500 kilograms of methamphetamine worth around Rs 12,000 crore was seized from a vessel in Indian waters along the Kerala coast in a joint operation by the Navy and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), the anti-drug agency said on Saturday. The NCB said it was the largest seizure of methamphetamine in the country and a Pakistani national has been detained in connection with it. Giving details of the seizure at a press conference held here, NCB Deputy Director General (Ops) Sanjay Kumar Singh said it was carried out as part of 'Operation Samudragupt' which targeted maritime trafficking of drugs originating from Afghanistan. This is the third major seizure by NCB of maritime trafficking of drugs through the southern route in the last one and a half years, the agency said. As part of the operation, so far around 3,200 kg of methamphetamine, 500 kg of heroin and 529 kg of hashish has been seized, it said. The first seizure in the operation was made in ..

Resilient future of nations along Indian Ocean requires trust: Hasina

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said that the resilient future of the nations along the Indian ocean coastlines require respect and mutual trust among them, stressing that her nation was committed to playing its role for peace in the region. Opening the two-day 6th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) here in the Bangladeshi capital, Hasina said that Indian ocean held significant importance for not only Bangladesh, but for all the countries in the region due to its geographical position. "We remain committed to playing our role for peace in the region, and expect all other countries to do the same to ensure a resilient future," she said during the conference, which is being organised by Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry along with India Foundation, a think tank based out of New Delhi. Hasina said the Indian Ocean held significant importance for not only Bangladesh, but for all the countries in the region due to its geographical position that prompted Dhaka to formulate recent