Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) 2023

Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) 2023

Important for Prelims:

Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue, Goa Maritime Conclave 2023, National Maritime Foundation (NMF), India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), Indo-Pacific Region, ASEAN, QUAD and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

Important for Mains:

GS-2: Importance of Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue, Importance and Challenges of the Indo-Pacific Region.

November 19, 2023

In News:

Recently, the 5th edition of the Indian Navy's annual top-level international conference 'Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue' (IPRD) concluded.

  • The theme of IPRD-2023, held in New Delhi from 15-17 November, 2023, was “Geopolitical Impact on Indo-Pacific Maritime Trade and Connectivity”.
  • IPRD-2023 was organized by the Indian Navy in collaboration with National Maritime Foundation (NMF).

Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) 2023

  • Held in New Delhi from 15-17 November, 2023, the theme of IPRD-2023 was “Geopolitical Impact on Indo-Pacific Maritime Trade and Connectivity”.
  • IPRD-2023 was organized by the Indian Navy in collaboration with the National Maritime Foundation (NMF).
  • It was organized under the Goa Maritime Conclave 2023.

Goa Maritime Conclave:

  • Goa Maritime Conclave was organized by the Indian Navy from 29 to 31 October 2023 at Goa.
  • In this dialogue, speakers from 16 countries discussed the following topics:
    • Maritime Connectivity
    • China's influence on maritime connectivity in the Indo-Pacific region
    • Maritime connectivity through shipping and trade
    • Maritime connectivity through shipping and trade
    • Private industry in the safety and security of Indo-Pacific maritime trade and navigation
    • Maintaining a rules-based, safe and secure Indo-Pacific

Significance:

National Security:

  • The Indian Navy will be able to keep a close watch on all activities in the Indian Ocean region in line with national security interests.
    • According to the Indian Vice President, more than 50 warships will be deployed to improve maritime trade and connectivity in the Indo-Pacific region.
    • The deployment of these warships will help in preventing piracy from the Gulf of Aden and monitoring the maritime exercises of China and Pakistan in the Arabian Sea.
  • Economic security and help in dealing with geopolitical challenges:
  • This will help in dealing with geopolitical challenges in the coming years.
    • According to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) proposed by India will make it easier to deal with the current geopolitical challenges. Like Israel and Palestine conflict.

About IMEC

  • It is a multimodal economic corridor which includes networks like shipping, railways and roadways, power cables, high-speed data cables, hydrogen pipelines etc.
  • IMEC will increase transportation efficiency, reduce logistics costs, enhance economic integration, generate employment as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • The project will connect India's ports of Jawaharlal Nehru, Mundra (Gujarat) and Kandla (Gujarat) with the ports of Fujairah, Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi in the UAE and Dammam, Ras Al Khair of Saudi Arabia, Haifa of Israel and Haradh and Al Haditha city of Saudi Arabia.

                                           

Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD)

About:

  • Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue is a top level global dialogue/conference on maritime strategies organized annually by the Indian Navy.
  • It was organized for the first time in the year 2018.
  • This conference is mainly organized by the National Maritime Foundation (NMF).

Objective:

  • It aims to review the current geopolitical situation in the Indo-Pacific region as well as identify various opportunities and challenges associated with the region.

Significance:

  • The conference plays an important role in India's foreign policy, especially in policy making regarding the Indo-Pacific region.

About National Maritime Foundation (NMF):

  • Established in 2005, NMF is one of India's leading maritime think-tanks, focusing on issues related to India's maritime interests.
  • IPRD, organized in pursuance of Goa Maritime Conclave 2023.
  • The Goa Maritime Conclave was organized by the Indian Navy from 29 to 31 October 2023 at Goa.

Indo-Pacific region

Economic significance:

  • India and the Pacific region is home to 64% of the global population and contributes 62% to global GDP.
  • 50% of global trade and 40% of oil passes through the Indo-Pacific region.
  • 90% of India's trade is through the Indo-Pacific region, including 80% of important cargo (coal, petroleum and gas, iron ore, fertilizers, etc.).

Strategic significance:

  • India is pursuing its strategic interests in the region through several regional organizations such as ASEAN, QUAD and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

Environmental and Ecological significance:

The Indo-Pacific region is home to many ecosystems, including coral reefs and marine biodiversity.                 

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Mains Exam Question

Discuss the role and importance of Indo-Pacific regional dialogue in ensuring security, stability, peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.