Sincere respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity remains foundation for reviving Indian Ocean as strong community: Jaishankar

India emphasized the importance of a multilateral rules-based international order and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity in revitalizing the Indian Ocean as a strong community. The statement, made by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at a meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association, was seen as a veiled criticism of China’s actions in the region. India also stressed the need to maintain the Indian Ocean as a free, open, and inclusive space based on international conventions.