India Reaffirms Commitment To Free & Open Maritime Order At UNSC Debate

India has reaffirmed its strong commitment to a free, open, and rules-based maritime order, grounded in international law and guided by the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), at a high-level UN Security Council (UNSC) debate on maritime security in New York.

The session, chaired by the Permanent Mission of Panama, brought together global stakeholders to address pressing challenges in maritime governance and security.

Addressing the debate, Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), outlined MAHASAGAR Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions, India’s strategic vision for maritime security, first articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Lal also congratulated Panama on assuming the UNSC presidency for August.

Emphasising the critical role of sea routes for global trade, energy supply, and communications, Lal stressed that India, with its extensive coastline and deep-rooted maritime traditions, has significant stakes in maritime safety.

Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said, “India, with a coastline of more than 11,000 km and nearly 1,300 offshore islands and islets, has an Exclusive Economic Zone spread over nearly 2.3 million sq km. India shares maritime boundaries with 7 nations. There are 12 major ports, 200 smaller ports, and nearly 30 shipyards on the Indian coast, continuing the longstanding shipbuilding tradition. India is also the third largest supplier of seafarers to the global maritime industry.”

He further added that millions of Indians depend on the ocean economy for their livelihoods, underlining the importance of maritime stability for economic growth and environmental sustainability.

Regional & Global Engagements

Lal highlighted India’s role as a founding member of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), and as an observer at the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC).

India also engages through platforms such as the Djibouti Code of Conduct (DCoC), Contact Group on Illicit Maritime Activities (CGIMA), and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).

Operational cooperation is enhanced through initiatives such as Coordinated Patrols (CORPATs), Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME), ASEAN-India maritime exercises, and the biennial Exercise MILAN.

India and the EU have also conducted joint naval operations in the Gulf of Guinea.

In a notable recent initiative, an Indian Naval Ship served as the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar, carrying nearly 50 crew from nine partner countries in the Indian Ocean Region for joint maritime security activities.

Lal also referred to India’s Deep Ocean Mission, aimed at enhancing understanding of deep-sea ecosystems, promoting sustainable fisheries, and conserving biodiversity.

He concluded by urging genuine international cooperation to address shared maritime challenges, reaffirming India’s readiness to continue contributing as a responsible maritime power.

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