Indian Ocean Naval Symposium

The Royal Thai Navy hosted the 8th edition of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs (CoC) in Bangkok, Thailand from 19th to 22nd December 2023. Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, led a three-member Indian Naval delegation for the Conclave.

IONS, initially conceptualised by the Indian Navy in 2008, served as a forum aimed at enhancing maritime cooperation among Navies of the Indian Ocean Region’s littoral states. It provided an open and inclusive platform for discussions on regionally relevant maritime issues, fostering a common understanding of the way forward. The inaugural edition of IONS took place in February 2008 in New Delhi, with the Indian Navy holding the Chair for a period of two years (2008 – 2010).

The 8th Conclave was attended by Chiefs of Navies and Heads of Maritime Agencies from IONS countries. This gathering marked the transfer of the IONS Chairmanship from France to Thailand. Alongside the Conclave, a Seminar themed ‘Blue Economy: Ways Forward for Sustainable Development of IONS Member States’ was conducted. Commodore Manmeet S Khurana, representing the Indian Navy as Cmde (Foreign Cooperation), presented a paper titled ‘Security is Foundation for Peaceful and Sustainable Blue Economy’. The sidelines of the Conclave were utilised for various bilateral interactions, fostering a greater degree of maritime cooperation and understanding among the IONS countries.