Maritime safety and security is of primordial importance to Indian Ocean Region: Secretary-General

The Secretary-General of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), Sanjiv Ranjan, stated that maritime safety and security is of "primordial importance" to th...

What Happened

The Secretary-General of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), Sanjiv Ranjan, stated that maritime safety and security is of "primordial importance" to the Indian Ocean Region, warning that any disruption in the Indian Ocean would have a deep economic impact across the region.
The remarks came in the context of India preparing to host the IORA Summit next year, which will mark 30 years of the grouping (founded in 1997).
The ongoing war in West Asia — and the resulting disruption at the Strait of Hormuz — has cast a shadow over India's agenda for the summit, pushing energy security and freedom of navigation to the forefront.
Ranjan, an Indian diplomat who assumed the Secretary-General role on January 1, 2025, underscored IORA's unique position as the only organisation bringing together all 23 Indian Ocean rim countries.
The Indian Ocean accounts for approximately 80% of the world's seaborne oil trade and is a critical artery for global supply chains.

Static Topic Bridges

Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

IORA is an intergovernmental organisation of 23 member states and 10 dialogue partners established to promote regional cooperation and sustainable development across the Indian Ocean rim. It was formally launched on 6–7 March 1997 through the signing of the Charter of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Co-operation. The idea was seeded during Nelson Mandela's visit to India in January 1995, reflecting the post-apartheid diplomatic opening of South Africa. IORA's mandate covers trade facilitation, investment promotion, maritime safety, fisheries, science and technology, blue economy, and disaster risk management.

23 member states including India, Australia, South Africa, Iran, UAE, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Singapore, and others bordering the Indian Ocean.
10 dialogue partners including the US, China, UK, France, Japan, and Egypt.
Secretariat is based in Ebène, Mauritius.
India, as one of the founding members, has consistently prioritised IORA as part of its SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine.
The 2026 summit will mark 30 years — IORA's landmark anniversary.
India's EAM S. Jaishankar met IORA Secretary General Sanjiv Ranjan in January 2026 to review priorities for Indian Ocean cooperation.

Connection to this news: The forthcoming 30th anniversary IORA summit in India (2027) is being shaped by the West Asia crisis and its maritime fallout, with maritime safety and energy security replacing trade facilitation at the top of the agenda.

Maritime Chokepoints and the Indian Ocean's Strategic Significance

A maritime chokepoint is a narrow passage through which large volumes of international shipping must pass, making it strategically and economically critical. The Indian Ocean hosts several of the world's most consequential chokepoints: the Strait of Hormuz (Persian Gulf exit), the Strait of Malacca (Indo-Pacific gateway), Bab-el-Mandeb (Red Sea entry), and the Mozambique Channel. Disruption at any of these nodes — through conflict, piracy, or geopolitical blockade — can trigger oil price spikes, commodity shortages, and supply chain crises globally. India, with its 7,500 km coastline and position at the centre of the Indian Ocean, is uniquely exposed to and responsible for Indian Ocean security.

Approximately 80% of global seaborne oil trade transits the Indian Ocean.
The Strait of Hormuz alone carries roughly 20–21 million barrels of oil per day, amounting to about 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption (per EIA data, 2024–25).
The 2026 West Asia conflict has disrupted Hormuz traffic, creating an energy crisis that has directly impacted India's oil import costs.
UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), adopted in 1982 and in force from 1994, governs freedom of navigation, Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), and the legal framework for maritime security — IORA explicitly reaffirms UNCLOS in its 2013 Declaration on Principles.

Connection to this news: The IORA Secretary-General's emphasis on maritime safety reflects the reality that any Hormuz closure or conflict-driven disruption directly impacts all 23 IORA member states — most of which depend on the Indian Ocean for energy imports or exports.

India's SAGAR Doctrine

SAGAR — Security and Growth for All in the Region — is India's framework for Indian Ocean engagement, articulated by Prime Minister Modi during a 2015 visit to Mauritius. It envisions India as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean, emphasising collective maritime security, sustainable use of ocean resources, cooperative development, and respect for international law including UNCLOS. SAGAR underpins India's bilateral maritime security agreements with island nations, its anti-piracy patrol deployments, and its engagement with IORA.

Announced in March 2015 during PM Modi's visit to Mauritius.
Five pillars: protecting maritime interests, deepening economic cooperation, developing maritime infrastructure, collective maritime security, and working with littoral states for regional development.
SAGAR links to India's Act East Policy and its vision of an Indo-Pacific free from hegemony.
Complements the Quad framework (India, US, Australia, Japan) which also prioritises a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Connection to this news: IORA's agenda under India's upcoming summit chairmanship is an institutional expression of the SAGAR doctrine — India positioning itself as the organiser and guarantor of Indian Ocean security norms.

Key Facts & Data

IORA was formally established on 6–7 March 1997; the 2027 summit will mark its 30th anniversary.
IORA has 23 member states and 10 dialogue partners; its Secretariat is in Mauritius.
Sanjiv Ranjan (Indian diplomat) became IORA Secretary-General on January 1, 2025, for a 3-year term.
The Strait of Hormuz carries approximately 20 million barrels of oil per day — around 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption.
UNCLOS (1982/1994) provides the legal framework for maritime governance; India is a signatory.
India's coastline spans approximately 7,500 km; its EEZ covers about 2.37 million sq km.
The Indian Ocean carries approximately 80% of global seaborne oil trade.
India's SAGAR doctrine was announced in 2015 from Mauritius, positioning India as a net security provider in the region.