The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is a geopolitical and geographical concept, not an act, institution, or scheme, that broadly defines the area encompassing the Indian Ocean and its surrounding littoral and island states. The Indian Ocean is the world's third-largest ocean, bordered by Asia to the north, Africa to the west, and Australia to the east. The concept gained prominence due to the ocean's historical role as a vital trade route for dynasties like the Cholas and merchants like the Manigramam Chettis, as noted in ancient texts like Kautilya's Arthashastra.
The IOR's mechanism is its function as a critical global artery: it handles 70% of global container traffic and 80% of global oil shipments, passing through vital choke points like the Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, and the Strait of Malacca. For India, the IOR is a lifeline, routing 95% of its trade by volume and 90% of its energy imports.
The IOR connects to the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), an intergovernmental organization established in 1997 to promote economic cooperation and regional integration among its 23 member states. IORA's six priority areas include Maritime Safety and Security and Trade and Investment Facilitation. A key recent development is the growing geopolitical competition, with the concept of the Indo-Pacific gaining strategic relevance, which views the IOR as its western half. India's own strategy, SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), launched in 2015, aims to strengthen its maritime influence and project itself as a net security provider in the region. This is in the context of increasing military and commercial activities by extra-regional powers like China, which has intensified the power competition.