Spain Joins Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI): Strengthening Maritime Cooperation

Source:  NIE

Subject:  International Relations

Context: Spain has formally joined the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), with its Foreign Minister handing over the Declaration of Accession to S. Jaishankar.

About Spain joined Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI):

What it is?

• The Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) is a non-treaty, voluntary, cooperative framework for practical maritime collaboration among like-minded countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

Launched in: 2019 (announced at the East Asia Summit, Bangkok).

Launched by: India, building on the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine

Aim:

• To promote a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific.
• To address maritime challenges through practical cooperation, not military alliances.
• To balance security, development, and sustainability in the maritime domain.

Key features:

• Seven thematic pillars:
  1. Maritime Security
  2. Maritime Ecology
  3. Maritime Resources
  4. Capacity Building & Resource Sharing
  5. Disaster Risk Reduction & Management
  6. Science, Technology & Academic Cooperation
  7. Trade, Connectivity & Maritime Transport
• Non-military, non-bloc approach focused on cooperation.
• Emphasis on Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), sustainability, and infrastructure resilience.
• Countries can voluntarily lead individual pillars.

Significance:

• Expands IPOI’s global legitimacy, especially with European participation.
• Strengthens India’s role as a net security provider and agenda-setter in the Indo-Pacific.
• Counters rising great-power rivalry by promoting inclusive multilateralism.