Indian Ocean Rim Association may gain relevance

Subject

Outlook for the Indian Ocean Rim Association.

Significance

Indonesia on March 5-7 hosted the first summit of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). Indonesia currently chairs the IORA, and President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo views the oceanic focus of the IORA as a means of pursuing his own vision of making Indonesia a ‘global maritime fulcrum’.

Impacts

• The IORA lacks the credibility and muscle to help resolve the South China Sea dispute.
• The body may be effective over time in curbing maritime refugee crises and piracy.
• Indonesia will remain averse to multilateral trade deals, at least under Jokowi.