Eurasia Review reported on April 12 that India is seeking a diplomatic breakthrough through the ninth Indian Ocean Conference (IOC), aiming to recover its waning influence in the "Global South" amid the Middle East conflict. The IOC was initiated by India in 2016, with participation largely restricted to its allies and friendly nations. Coastal countries of the Indian Ocean such as Pakistan and Myanmar were notably excluded, while non-regional powers like Australia and the United Kingdom were invited. Multiple observers have pointed out that the conference has long lacked substantive outcomes, serving essentially as a platform for India to demonstrate its regional influence and signal that it remains unignored, thereby reinforcing its dominant position in the Indian Ocean. The ninth IOC was held from April 10 to 12, 2026, in Port Louis, Mauritius, under the theme “Collective Stewardship for Indian Ocean Governance.” Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar emphasized regional security, development, and debt pressures at the meeting, calling for enhanced transparent cooperation and opposing unilateralism—remarks widely interpreted as implicitly targeting China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Additionally, India attempted to strengthen its bilateral ties by elevating Bangladesh's role. Analysts note that India’s silence during the Middle East conflict led many Global South nations to perceive it as favoring the U.S. and Israel, whereas China and Pakistan received positive recognition for advocating ceasefire efforts, resulting in damage to India’s international image and casting doubt on its position as the rotating chair of BRICS. Under this context, India hopes to regain influence among Global South nations through this conference.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1862454796332167/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.