India Admitted as Fifth Observer to Indian Ocean Commission

India was admitted to the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC: Commission de l’Océan Indien, COI) on Friday as an observer after it applied last month to be considered for observer status.

The decision was taken at the meeting of the IOC Conference of ministers in Seychelles on Friday making India the fifth observer. The other four observers China, Malta, European Union and International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF).

The five-member grouping is important given India’s plans to expand in The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) which is strategically connects the Indian Ocean to the Southeastern coast of Africa and beyond.

The member states are known to be erstwhile French colonies or partly British, partly French colonies. With France a member of IOC because of Reunion Islands, sources say they played a key role in ensuring India’s admission.

To a question on whether if this was a counter move to China’s presence in the bloc, a source denied such motives and said, This is to enhance India’s outreach in the western flank of the Indo-Pacific. Not a counter to any particular nation.

India has made some high-level visits to some of the member states like India’s Vice President visited Comoros and President Kovind visited Madagascar in 2018 following which the defence agreement was signed.

Therefore, the admission of India, even as an observer, to IOC is of great strategic significance since it will allow collective engagement with the island nations of western Indian Ocean (WIO) and further boost ties with an already strong friend, France.

The move will also lend greater significance to India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for all in the Region) policy of the Modi administration.

The IOC was created in 1982 at Port Louis, Mauritius, and later institutionalised in 1984.

It has five member nations- Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion (an overseas region of France) and Seychelles.

Source: IT

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