Overview of 9th Indian Ocean Conference held in Port Louis, Mauritius

Current Context: The 9th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC 2026) was held in Port Louis, Mauritius from 10–12 April 2026, marking the first time the forum was hosted in an African country.

• Organized by the India Foundation in collaboration with the Government of Mauritius and India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
• The conference served as a key platform for Track 1.5 diplomacy — bringing together officials and experts for open dialogue on regional governance.
• Highlights
• Theme: “Collective Stewardship for Indian Ocean Governance” — stressing shared responsibility for maritime security, resources, and rule of law.
• India’s 5 Priorities (Jaishankar): Overcoming colonial legacies, addressing chokepoint vulnerabilities, building trusted partnerships, collective resilience, and India as a first responder in HADR.
• Key Debates: Sovereign digital infrastructure, Chagos Islands dispute (Maldives absent), reopening of Strait of Hormuz, and concerns over maritime blackmail.
• Climate & Blue Economy: Island nations emphasized sustainable fisheries, reef protection, and climate resilience.
• Diplomatic Format: Functioned as a Track 1.5 diplomacy forum, enabling dialogue beyond rigid protocols.

Question:

Q.1 The 9th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC 2026) was hosted by which country?
a) Sri Lanka
b) Maldives
c) Mauritius
d) Seychelles

Answer: c) “Collective Stewardship for Indian Ocean Governance” — stressing shared responsibility for maritime security, resources, and rule of law.