Big Power Relations under the Framework of the IOR-ARC

The Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) has been highlighted in recent years by the Indian Ocean region’s growing in strategic and economic importance and the impetus from the participation of the Middle Eastern countries. Many powers, including the U.S., China, Iran, and India, are involved in this organization as members or dialogue partners, which expand the influence of the organization on the one hand, and stand in the way of the integration of the region under the framework of IOR-ARC due to complex contradiction among them on the other. The role of IOR-ARC in diplomacy of different powers is various from an economic platform for expanding market to a political tool for pursuing regional dominance without a common strategic focus. The IOR-ARC provides a shared public platform of geopolitics for stakeholders to prevent overlapping interests from causing conflicts, and the stumbled cooperation process after initial general enthusiasm also reflects diverging interests inside it. In this regard, powers are both driving and dragging force to the organization. The IOR-ARC is of great potential as it includes many emerging economics and fastest-growing markets. However, the future development and efficiency of it still depends on the relationships among global and regional powers under its framework.