AT UNSC meet, PM calls for cooperation in maritime security

THE OPEN DEBATE FOCUSSED ON WAYS TO EFFECTIVELY COUNTER MARITIME CRIME AND INSECURITY, AND STRENGTHEN COORDINATION

UNITED NATIONS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday chaired a high-level United Nations Security Council open debate on enhancing maritime security and the need for international cooperation in this field. Modi is the first Indian prime minister to preside over a UN Security Council Open Debate, according to the Prime Minister’s Office. “We need to face natural disasters, maritime threats created by non-state actors.We need to promote responsible maritime connectivity; building infrastructure must to boost ocean trade. Any hindrance to maritime trade can hurt global economy,” he said.

The prime minister chaired the open debate on “Enhancing Maritime Security - A Case for International Cooperation” via video conferencing.

The meeting is being attended by several heads of state and government of member states of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), and high-level briefers from the UN system and key regional organisations. The open debate was focussed on ways to effectively counter maritime crime and insecurity, and strengthen coordination in the maritime domain. The UN Security Council has discussed and passed resolutions on different aspects of maritime security and maritime crime in the past.

However, this is the first time that maritime security is being discussed in a holistic manner as an exclusive agenda item in such a high-level open debate. Earlier, Modi had put forward the vision of SAGAR - an acronym for “Security and Growth for all in the Region” in 2015. India will host signature events on maritime security, counter-terrorism and peacekeeping. External affairs minister S Jaishankar will chair an open debate on August 18 on technology and peacekeeping.