AT UNSC meet, PM calls for cooperation in maritime security

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 m time crime and insecurity, strengthen coordination in maritime domain. The UN S rity Council has discussed passed resolutions on diffe aspects of maritime security maritime crime in the past.

However, this is the first that maritime security is b discussed in a holistic mann an exclusive agenda item in a high-level open debate. Ea Modi had put forward the vi of SAGAR - an acronym “Security and Growth for a the Region” in 2015. India host signature events on m time security, counter-terro and peacekeeping. Exte affairs minister S Jaishankar chair an open debate on Au 18 on technology and peacek ing.s