US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Atul Keshap on Friday said future prosperity and stability of the Indian Ocean region is the collective responsibility of all nations to ensure that it remains a place of peaceful commerce and exchange. “To achieve this vision, the region must first and foremost find its own voice and build the necessary structures to foster development,” he said while making the United States of America’s statement at the 15th IORA Council of Ministers Meeting held in Padang, Indonesia. Together, the US diplomat said, these efforts can create a blueprint for a rules-based architecture that facilitates peaceful resolution of disputes, transparency, freedom of navigation, environmental safeguards, strengthened economic and people-to-people linkages, and democratic values and human rights. “These are all areas where IORA can find its footing.” Indeed, some countries in the region are already leading by example, resolving maritime boundary issues in a peaceful manner through binding arbitration, he mentioned. “The United States commends the example shown by India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar recently in this regard, as it shows a positive way forward for all other Indo-Pacific countries in peacefully settling complicated matters in ways that enhance regional stability and prosperity,” Keshap added. “The actions we take now will help set the stage for the next half-century. Today’s choices will determine if future generations have access to sustainable fisheries, enjoy higher standards of living, and are able to live in a world free of territorial and resource-driven conflicts.” The US diplomat said the United States’ whole-of-government effort to ‘rebalance’ to the Indo-Pacific region is based on recognition of this reality. He said the IORA has an opportunity to play a pivotal role – it has the right objectives and components to become a cooperative forum on shared interests of states throughout the region. The countries of IORA have common cause against a range of contemporary global threats, including terrorism, violent extremism and maritime piracy. “But security challenges are not the only threats we collectively face.” He said they must enhance the vitality of coastal communities through conservation and sustainable use of ocean resources. “We must commit to marine planning, and practices to enhance food security and community resiliency.” The diplomat said a healthy ocean economy means balancing development and growth with science-based conservation and management of ocean and coastal resources and ecosystems – upon which such development depends. He also mentioned that the IORA presents an opportunity for the Indian Ocean region to craft its own identity – to set its own priorities, build its own connections, set its own peaceful and transparent norms, and strengthen its common voice – just as other regional organizations have done.
