<p>Against the backdrop of the growing strategic importance of the Indian Ocean and China's increasing assertiveness in the maritime domain, the US Friday joined the IOR-ARC, the 19-member regional grouping, as its sixth dialogue partner.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The Union of Comoros, an archipelago of four islands and several islets located in the western Indian Ocean, also joined the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) as its 20th member.<br /><br />The meeting of council of ministers of the 19-member regional grouping, which brings together countries on the rim of the Indian Ocean, unanimously approved the US' inclusion as a dialogue partner. Currently, Japan, Egypt, France and Britain are dialogue partners in the IOR-ARC.<br /><br />The US's entry is set to provide greater strategic heft to the Indian Ocean regional organisation and is widely seen as an attempt to counter-balance the Chinese maritime assertiveness in the Indian Ocean and the Asia-Pacific region.</p>
<p>Against the backdrop of the growing strategic importance of the Indian Ocean and China's increasing assertiveness in the maritime domain, the US Friday joined the IOR-ARC, the 19-member regional grouping, as its sixth dialogue partner.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The Union of Comoros, an archipelago of four islands and several islets located in the western Indian Ocean, also joined the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) as its 20th member.<br /><br />The meeting of council of ministers of the 19-member regional grouping, which brings together countries on the rim of the Indian Ocean, unanimously approved the US' inclusion as a dialogue partner. Currently, Japan, Egypt, France and Britain are dialogue partners in the IOR-ARC.<br /><br />The US's entry is set to provide greater strategic heft to the Indian Ocean regional organisation and is widely seen as an attempt to counter-balance the Chinese maritime assertiveness in the Indian Ocean and the Asia-Pacific region.</p>
