The Indian Ocean Dialogue (IOD) is a flagship initiative of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), established by the 13th Council of Ministers’ meeting, held in November 2013 in Perth, Australia.

Through the years, IOD has established itself as a stand-alone Track 1.5 discussion, encouraging for an open and free dialogue by key representatives of IORA Member States such as scholars, experts, analysts, and policy makers from governments, think tanks and civil societies on several crucial strategic issues of the Indian Ocean Region.

Recognizing the importance of the IOD as a vibrant platform to discuss regional issues, the 18th IORA Meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO), held in Bali, Indonesia on 25-26 October 2016, encouraged the continuity of the forum and requested Member States to formulate new proposals, which could be sustainably actionable and achievable, to carry on the legacy of the previous three IODs.

IOD is guided by a Terms of Reference, endorsed by 23rd CSO meeting held on 15-16 November 2021 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. As from 2021, IOD is scheduled to be held biennially by any Member State.