South OC Times

Yesterday, senior members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) and Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), introduced the Indian Ocean Region Strategic Review Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to bolster U.S. strategic engagement with the Indian Ocean region by mandating the creation of a multi-year strategy and implementation plan for coordinated regional military, diplomatic, and development initiatives.

Rep. Issa stated, “As we seek to counter China’s aggression and establish a winning Indo-Pacific strategy, America’s engagement with the Indian Ocean Region is critically important to our national interest. It is a point of intersection of widespread global trade and rapid economic growth, and it warrants a priority position in America’s policy choices. As we work to deepen our relationship and strengthen our partnerships in the Indian Ocean Region, I’m joining with Rep. Castro to advance the Indian Ocean Region Strategic Review Act and bring needed focus on this critical part of the world and our future in it.”

Rep. Castro added, “As the United States deepens our engagement in the Indo-Pacific, we can’t afford to overlook the importance of the Indian Ocean Region. Home to nearly 40 percent of the world’s population and stretching across three continents, the Indian Ocean Region is a vital center of economic growth and innovation. I’m glad to introduce the Indian Ocean Region Strategic Review Act, which will streamline U.S. diplomacy, defense, and development coordination with our allies and partners to build a free, safe, and prosperous future for the Indian Ocean Region and the world.”

The proposed bill would necessitate coordination among various departments such as State Department, Department of Defense, and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to ensure a unified approach towards engagement in this region.

Specifically, it aims to enhance diplomatic relations through active participation in regional organizations; foster military communication through existing agreements with strategic partners like India; encourage commercial exchanges and economic development by working closely with regional countries; ensure freedom of navigation and protect international shipping lanes; and enhance the ability of regional governments and NGOs to respond, prepare, and mitigate environmental disasters.

The full text of the legislation is available here.

In 2022, the Annual Report of the Bipartisan US-China Economic and Security Review Commission recommended the creation of an Indian Ocean strategy. During the 117th Congress, a previous version of this Act was included in the House-passed version of the America COMPETES Act.