Context: Recently, the External Affairs Minister of India traveled to the Australian city of Perth to attend a two-day conference on the Indian Ocean.

Indian Ocean Conference

• About: It is a flagship consultative forum for countries in the Indian Ocean Region, organized annually by the Ministry of External Affairs, in association with the India Foundation.
• 7th edition held in: Perth, Australia 
• Theme of the 7th Conference is: 'Towards a Stable and Sustainable Indian Ocean'.
• Started in: 2016
• Aim: To deliberate upon the prospects of regional cooperation for Security and Growth for All in Region (SAGAR).

Significance of the Indian Ocean Conference (IOC)

• Enhancing Regional Collaborations: The Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) strives to fortify alliances with countries in the Indian Ocean region, fostering stronger partnerships.
• Promoting Political Engagement: The conference serves as a platform to elevate regional political involvement, encouraging active participation and dialogue among member nations.
• Crisis Decision-Making Facilitation: One of the primary objectives of the IOC is to facilitate effective decision-making during crisis situations, ensuring timely and coordinated responses.
• Global Event Discussions: Participating countries seize the opportunity to engage in discussions about ongoing global events, enabling them to stay well-informed and make strategic decisions for future actions.