Indian Ocean Naval Symposium

The 7^th edition of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs was hosted by the French Navy at Paris on 15^th and 16^th November, 2021.

The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), established in 2007, is a premier forum for cooperation and collaboration among navies of littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.

• The forum has enabled discussions on regional maritime issues, promoted friendly relationships, and significantly improved maritime security cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region.

Significance: It includes 25 member nations that touch or lie within the IOR, and 8 observer nations.

• It also serves to develop an effective response mechanism and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) against natural disasters. France assumed the Chairmanship in June 2021 for a two-year tenure.