News Excerpt:
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs Committee will introduce legislation requiring the U.S. administration to present a formal and “cohesive” Indian Ocean strategy across key departments.
Indian Ocean Region Strategic Review Act:
- The Indian Ocean Region Strategic Review Act is based on a recommendation of the Bipartisan US-China Economic and Security Review Commission.
- The commission is a body set up in 2000 to review and report on the US-China relationship.
- The Commission’s November 2022 report had recommended that the US administration submit an Indian Ocean Region (IOR) strategy that would include plans to develop U.S. economic interests in the region, defend freedom of navigation, support regional partners and promote cooperation with Japan , Australia, India, the U.K. and France, among others.
- The Indian Ocean Region Strategic Review Act would require coordination across the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Defense, and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to ensure a cohesive approach to engagement in the Indian Ocean region.
- The act is “largely symbolic” given that there is already coordination between the departments of the administration with regard to the region.
- The Indian Ocean bill is part of the U.S. Congress’s attempts to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific.
- The U.S. Secretary of State will be required to, within 180 days of the Act becoming law, submit a ”multi-year strategy and implementation plan” for U.S. “engagement and posture” in the region.
The Act requires the United States to:
- Strengthen diplomatic relations through active participation in regional organisations and bilateral engagements.
- Build upon existing agreements with strategic partners like India to foster military communication and intelligence sharing.
- Encourage commercial exchanges and economic development by working closely with countries in the region, including island nations and key partners like India, Japan, and Australia (Quad countries).
- Ensure freedom of navigation and protect international shipping lanes that are vital for global trade.
- Enhance the ability of regional governments and NGOs to respond, prepare, and mitigate environmental disasters.
Significance of the Indian Ocean region:
- The Indian Ocean region is home to nearly 40% of the world’s population and stretches across three continents.
- It is a vital center of economic growth and innovation and connects people and economies across the globe.
- Its vast coastline includes some of the world’s most important shipping lanes—from the Strait of Hormuz to the Malacca Strait.
- Eighty percent of the world’s maritime oil shipments traverse Indian Ocean waters, and the region encompasses many of the world’s most vital fisheries.
Prelims PYQ
Q. With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)’, consider the following statements: (UPSC 2015)
- It was established very recently in response to incidents of piracy and accidents of oil spills.
- It is an alliance meant for maritime security only.
Which of the following statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
