The Sixth Indian Ocean Conference, which lasted two days and started on Friday in the capital Dhaka, is now over. There were 150 participants, including ministers and heads of government from 25 different nations.
Peace, Partnership, and Prosperity for a Sustainable Future was the event's theme this year. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made a request during the opening ceremony for more maritime diplomacy, partnership-building, and mutual respect among the nations of the Indian Ocean area in order to ensure the stability of the region's future. In her remarks, she focused on six points:
* Building a solid marine diplomacy for growth and prosperity
* Strengthening regional partnerships for sustainable development
* Reducing climate change risk via increased regional collaboration
* Expanding regional air and naval traffic while maintaining maritime security
* Adopting a culture of peace and techniques for development that are favourable to people
* Adopting measures to incorporate the majority of women in the world's workforce in all employment-related activities
I concur with what the PM has said. The Asia-Pacific and African continents are significantly impacted economically, politically, and strategically by the Indian Ocean region. The area accounts for 60% of global GDP and 64% of the world's population.
Despite its enormous potential, the area confronts several difficulties. To maintain peace and prosperity for everybody, the nations of the Indian Ocean area must thus enhance their partnership and cooperation.
In today's world, oceans are essential to both economic development and food security. The strain on the seas is growing due to a number of factors, including population increase, global competition for raw materials, food consumption, fresh water security, ocean-centric security concerns, climate change, and marine pollution. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stressed the six elements, which I believe are crucial for the countries of the Mediterranean area in order to lessen these pressures.
The Indian Ocean is significant for all of the countries in the region, not only Bangladesh, due to its physical location. Bangladesh has already embraced the Indo-Pacific strategy and is monitoring how the regional dynamics and power balance are evolving. Indian Ocean is unquestionably significant to China, India, the United States, France, and Russia from a geopolitical perspective. They don't want a power vacuum to develop in this area.
The six GCC nations, which are situated on the Persian Gulf's coast and the edge of the Indian Ocean, in addition to India and China, have a significant impact on global politics and the economy. The complex rivalry between the United States, Russia, China, and India makes it difficult for Bangladesh to preserve and advance its own interests. Therefore, boosting regional collaboration on multiple levels is the only option, in addition to diplomatic efforts in this area.
In this regard, we believe Bangladesh is moving in the correct direction. It is also a wise choice to reveal Bangladesh's Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS), which has 15 objectives and four guiding principles. First, Bangladesh has simplified the debate around security and freedom. Second, it is declared that no country's sovereignty or internal affairs may be meddled with. Friendship with all, hostility with none, sums up its foreign policy.
Bangladesh is progressing by upholding its policy of universal friendliness. The country is being led by the prime minister in an effective and profitable manner. We are optimistic that if we take into account the six problems put out by the prime minister at this year's Indian Ocean Conference, mutual understanding, peace, prosperity, and security between the Indian Ocean countries would be reinforced.
The two-day Indian Ocean Conference in Dhaka produced several outcomes crucial to the region's development and stability. In the backdrop of escalating geopolitical competition across the Indian and Pacific Oceans, countries in the area are becoming more significant.
However, the foundation essential for successful regional collaboration is lacking in the face of geopolitical concerns. It is crucial to have a solid regional structure in this situation since it is the region with the quickest growth in the entire world. The experts at the meeting shared this viewpoint.
In her remarks at the conference's opening ceremony on Friday in Dhaka, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called for more maritime diplomacy, the development of strong alliances, and mutual respect and trust among the nations of the Indian Ocean area. The meeting was attended by ministers and state ministerial delegations from 25 nations, including the presidents of Mauritius and India. A total of 150 international guests, including D-8, SAARC, and BIMSTEC leaders, attended the meeting as well. The conference has a unique relevance because of the active involvement of such a large number of delegates.
"Peace, Partnership, and Prosperity: Towards a Sustainable Resilient Future" is an excellent and pertinent conference subject -- that goes without saying. Remember that this subject has unquestionably grown much more pertinent in light of the sanctions and counter-sanctions brought forth by the Covid-19 pandemic scenario and the continuing Russia-Ukraine war.
All nations across the globe are currently facing difficulties that have never before existed. All throughout the world, people are suffering from intolerable conditions brought on by the global recession, a lack of food, fuel, and fertilizer. Along with these issues, the Indian Ocean area must also contend with terrorism, climate change, maritime security, and natural catastrophes.
The prime minister is correct when she says that for the countries in the area to overcome these obstacles, they must form strong alliances and work together to promote peace and development for a promising future. If action is taken after grasping the significance of her remarks, we may anticipate that the maritime nations in the area will benefit.
A regional organization is required to handle the problem, David Brewster noted. He has a Senior Fellow position at the Australian National University's National Security College. In his lecture, the modern situation was obviously presented. He correctly noted that the US, China, and India are vying for hegemony in the Pacific area and around India. By supporting its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) initiatives, China is influencing nations with weak economies. This leads to those countries being economically and politically unstable.
The nations in the Indian Ocean area have enormous economic potential, but they are also at risk from climate change and security crises. The United States, Japan, and Australia have promised to step up their diplomatic and financial engagement in the region's nations, particularly Bangladesh, in order to resolve this issue. This might be viewed as the conference's accomplishment.
Sharat Singh is a freelance contributor.
