Cooperative Organisational Structures in IOR

 

 

Any policy should have its specific directions and, so is the case of foreign policies including towareds different dimensions of security, whether on land or in regional waters. The location of West Asia including Arabian Peninsula, which is surrounded by seas on three sides, has geographically influenced the historical path of the people inhabiting the area.

 

 

The strategic location, bordering with the Indian Ocean, as well as linking with various seas, all these factors make West Asia including  the Arabian Peninsula, since earlier times, a source of attraction, and at the same time a target for external threats. So, it requires West Asia to learn from the history and should have powerful maritime facilities.

 

 

History shows us that a state which dominates sea ports along its border would  be  a  significant  trade  state  as  trade  is  generally  dependent  on maritime navigation. Our Arab ancestors have had a rich trade experience with East Africa, South and Southeast Asia since earlier times, and the grandsons should keep in their minds the historical lessons from such experience.

 

 

The participation and cooperation in IOR and with the world should be done by raising awareness   of    challenges   and   risks   that   happened   in   the   past; and unless its recurrence is avoided, West Asia would pass through a new version of unpleasant experience similer to the past , which threatens the growth and prosperity of the  West Asia countries.

 

 

The West Asian countries are coastal inhabitants by nature, as they overlook the sea and most have islands. West Asia links to the seas and oceans are not only   matters   of   geographical   nature,   but   also   culturally   important, where historical, cultural, economic and political ties of Arabs with other nations perticuleriy with those of IOR had developed thousands of years back, mostly through sea.

 

 

 

West Asian economies have grown rapidly; especially the oil-exporting ones; whereas oil exports make the maritime security significant at the economic level as oil is transported by sea. It is worth to mention that maritime security as well as energy security are both linked together. The continued economic growth is associated with the flow of oil exports and their access to the international markets.

 

 

The pirates attacks to trade ships at sea confirm the necessity to enhance cooperation for maritime security and expanding the role of the Coast Guard in order to face such challenges. The foreign policies of West Asian countries should focus on this critical issue in the sake of their security and renaissance.

 

West Asian states show great responsibility which reflects in the foreign policy that serves their region and the world on the basis of common interests in security and development.

 

 

The IOR provided a framework to promote a mutual understanding of marine issues of the countries bordering the Indian Ocean, such as strengthening the regional security and stability of the maritime, establishment and promotion of various cooperation activities as well development of joint operations according to Naval principles.

 

The IOR also afforded a platform for naval forces of the participating countries to consult periodically and regularly on regional maritime security issues.

 

 

The  maritime  safety is considered a  genuine factor of  economic security  for West Asian ,IOR countries and the rest of the world, thus, Westn Asia should support and back the international and regional joint efforts,mainly Maritime Safety and Security structures and current programmes of member states, including inter-state arrangments.

 

 

 

 

The regional endeavors to protect maritime transits from any threat including piracy, overseas crimes of maritime security are all representing the core of bi-lateral and multi-lateral partnership among the the regional and sub-regional maritime organizations and IOR including  West Asian countries.

 

 

The maritime security is an important issue for a dialogue between the states,the holding of the First Indian Ocean Dialogue on 5to 7 September 2014 in India was a good experience and a chance to exchange information, raising awareness and sharing the best practices to enhance maritime security and reduction of marine pollution as well the laws regarding maritime in order to combat any violations such as piracy, smuggling of human beings and drugs

 

The views of humanitarian assistance and disaster control organizations are also being requiered for collaboration and exchange of views to strengthen maritime security regionally and internationally. The IOR represents an important framework for cooperation in the maritime field,perticulerly in Domain awareness,information-sharing mechanism and designation of nodal agencies-PoC for collation and dissemination for data managment.

 

 

 

 

 

The waterways and ports such as Bab el-Mandab and the ports of the Gulf of Aden are areas of continuing economic, strategic and grand strategic interest to the international community. They are all of parallel geo-strategic importance. Therefore, there are compelling reasons for concrete actions to step up security in the strategic waterways and ports at a time when are looking for soft spots.

 

 

Yemen gave an important strategic and operational consideration to maritime security as  a  high  priority  following  October  2000  attack  on  USS  Cole and coastal security following the Limburg incident.

 

 

The Republic of Yemen’s cooperation with the international community is part of an ambitious effort to improve security within IOR and  worldwide and this cooperation will develop further

 

 

The International communities and country of region should agree on some means and ways that can be taken by each respective country individually and with others collectively. Among some of these can be recommended as follows:

 

 

 

-     To establish a Strait of Bab Almandab Council.

 

-     To have Marine Electronic Highway (MEH) demonstration project for Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean and to sign MoU of MEH among littoral states.

 

 

-     To explore modalities for cooperation for sharing of the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean.

 

-     To follow up the memorandum of the Djibouti Conference to combat piracy and armoured attack in the Gulf of Aden and the west of Indian Ocean signed in 2009.

 

-     To establish regional centre for maritime exchange of data and disseminate information.

 

-     To recognize the strategic importance of the Straits for regional and global seaborne trade and the need to ensure that they remain safe and open to shipping at all times.

 

-      To   recognize   further   the   safety,   security   and   environmental vulnerabilities of the Straits and the possibility that unlawful acts committed therein may have a serious negative impact on the flow of traffic there-through.

 

-     To note with particular concern the number of incidents of unlawful acts and armed robbery against ships and seafarers reported to have taken place in the Straits.