What’s in the news?

• India, Australia and France held talks for the first time under a trilateral framework with focus on enhancing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, a region that has been witnessing increasing Chinese military assertiveness. 
• The virtual meeting was held with the objective of building on the strong bilateral ties that the three countries share with each other and synergise their respective strengths to ensure a peaceful, secure, prosperous and rules-based Indo-Pacific Region.

Outcome of the meet

• The three sides discussed economic and geo-strategic challenges and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and domestic responses to the crisis.
• Cooperation on marine global commons and potential areas for practical partnership at the trilateral and regional level were also discussed, including through regional organisations such as ASEAN, Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and the Indian Ocean Commission.
• The three countries agreed to hold the dialogue on an annual basis.

Related information

About ASEAN

• Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional & intergovernmental organisation of 10 countries of southeast Asia. 

• Its members are Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore, Myanmar, Philippines, Brunei and Vietnam. 
• They work towards the progress of the southeast Asia region. 

About Indian Ocean Rim Association 

• IORA is an inter-governmental organisation which was established in 1997 to strengthen regional cooperation and sustainable development within the Indian Ocean region.
• IORA consists of 22 Member States (including India) and 10 Dialogue Partners.
• IORA became an observer to the UN General Assembly and the African Union in 2015.
• Decisions made within IORA are reached by consensus and commitments are undertaken on a voluntary basis.
• The IORA Secretariat is based in Mauritius. It is headed by a fixed term Secretary-General. 

About IOC

• The Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) is an intergovernmental body created in 1984 that coordinates maritime governance in the south-western Indian Ocean.

• It consists of five Member States: The Union of the Comoros, France Reunion Island, Madagascar, Mauritius and the Seychelles.
• The IOC’s mission is to unite Member States’ forces and pool their resources, raise awareness of the special challenges that developing islands face and promote Indianoceania as a region of unique human, cultural and natural diversity.