Tim Watts has been appointed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as Australia’s first-ever Special Envoy for Indian Ocean Affairs, a move that signals Canberra’s growing commitment to the geopolitically crucial region. He was serving as Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs in the previous Albanese government.
“The Indian Ocean region matters to Australia,” Watts declared in a post on LinkedIn, highlighting the government’s increasing diplomatic, economic, and strategic engagement across an area he described as “home to the world’s fastest-growing economies and a centre of geostrategic contest.”
In an earlier address, delivered at the Indian Ocean Roundtable hosted by the Perth USAsia Centre, Watts had outlined Australia’s intent to work closely with Indian Ocean countries to boost trade, investment, and cooperation on climate resilience, maritime security, and disaster preparedness.
Spanning from Africa’s east coast to Western Australia, the Indian Ocean region includes Southeast Asia, South Asia, and dozens of island nations. It carries more than a third of the world’s bulk cargo traffic and two-thirds of global oil shipments, making it pivotal to global commerce and security.
Watts pointed to the 7th Indian Ocean Conference in Perth, co-hosted by Australia and India, as a demonstration of the shared stakes in the region’s stability. “Australia is an Indian Ocean country,” he said, adding that Perth remains “our Indian Ocean capital.”
In his new role, Watts will leverage his extensive diplomatic experience – including visits to India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives – to strengthen Australia’s regional partnerships. Notably, he has opened Australian diplomatic posts in Kolkata and Bengaluru, reflecting growing ties with India.
Addressing mounting regional challenges – from political instability in Bangladesh and Myanmar to climate-induced displacement and strategic tensions – Watts had reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to shaping “a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indian Ocean region.”
He also reaffirmed support for multilateral bodies such as IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association) and initiatives like the Bali Process to combat people smuggling and transnational crime.
“Australia wants to model positive, thoughtful and deliberate conduct across the region,” Watts said, calling for cooperation rooted in mutual respect, sovereignty, and international law.
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