Spain Joins India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, a Voluntary Non-Treaty Framework

Spain joins India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), described as a voluntary, non-treaty-based arrangement. IPOI is in the news due to new participation and its stated role in promoting cooperation for a free and open Indo-Pacific and a rules-based regional order.

Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI):

Dimension	Key Details
Nature of framework	IPOI is a non-treaty-based voluntary arrangement.
Purpose	Cooperation for a free and open Indo-Pacific and the rules-based regional order.
Launch	India at the East Asia Summit in 2019, held in Bangkok (Thailand).
Builds upon	“Security and Growth for All in the Region” (SAGAR) initiative announced by India in 2015.
SAGAR	SAGAR encourages countries to cooperate and synergise efforts towards a safe, secure, and stable maritime domain.
Pillars	Maritime Security; Maritime Ecology; Capacity Building and Resource Sharing; Disaster Risk Reduction and Management.
Indo-Pacific definition	Interconnected space between the Indian and the Pacific Ocean, joined together by its main trading channel, the Malacca strait.
Indo-Pacific quantitative facts	More than half of the world’s population and nearly 2/3rds of the global economy.
Example of cooperation linked to IPOI	In 2020, India and Vietnam agreed to enhance their bilateral cooperation in line with IPOI.
Convergences listed with other initiatives	Convergences (as listed) with AIIPOIP (Australia-India Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative Partnership), AOIP (ASEAN Outlook for the Indo-Pacific), and IPEF.