India took over from France to assume the presidency of
India took over from France to assume the presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the month of August.
On Monday UNSC unanimously adopted a presidential statement on maritime security that recognized the importance of enhancing international and regional cooperation to counter threats to maritime safety and security.
A high-level open debate chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on ‘Enhancing Maritime Security: A Case for International Cooperation’ was attended virtually by Russian President Vladimir Putin, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Chef de Cabinet of the Secretary-General Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta, and Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Chinh.
PM Modi laid down a 5 point agenda to enhance maritime cooperation.
- Removal of barriers to legitimate maritime trade: “Global prosperity depends on the active flow of maritime trade. Any hindrance in maritime trade can threaten the global economy,” PM Modi said. He added that maritime trade has always been part of the civilizational ethos of India. He termed this principle as ‘SAGAR’ Security and Growth for All in the Region.
- Resolution of maritime disputes peacefully in accordance with international law: Citing the example of the resolution of India’s maritime dispute with Bangladesh, PM Modi said it is necessary for free maritime trade to fully respect the rights of seafarers of other countries.
- Fight threats from natural disasters, non-state actors: PM Modi said the Indian Navy has been patrolling to counter piracy in the Indian Ocean since 2008. “We are enhancing the common maritime domain awareness of the region through our White Shipping Information Fusion Centre. We have provided support for hydrographic surveying and training of maritime security personnel to several countries,” he added.
- Conservation of marine resources: “Our oceans directly impact our climate. Hence, it is very important that we keep our maritime environment free of pollutants like plastic waste and oil spills. We also need to take joint steps against over-fishing and marine poaching,” PM Modi said. He also emphasized the need for increased mutual cooperation in Ocean Science research.
- Promoting responsible maritime connectivity: PM Modi said it is well understood that the creation of infrastructure is necessary to boost maritime trade. He then advocated for appropriate global norms and standards to ensure that such infrastructure projects are carried out as per the fiscal sustainability and absorption capacity of the host countries.
It was noted that this was the first UNSC document to deal with the issue of maritime security holistically and comprehensively as earlier documents of the Security Council had focused on the issue from a limited perspective of maritime piracy.
“The Security Council reaffirms that international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982 (UNCLOS), sets out the legal framework applicable to activities in the oceans, including countering illicit activities at sea.”
In the presidential statement, the Security Council noted with concern the “ongoing threats to maritime safety and security posed by piracy, armed robbery at sea, terrorists’ travel and use of sea to conduct crimes and acts against shipping, offshore installations, critical infrastructure, and other maritime interests.”
It further noted the continuing problem of transnational organised crimes committed at sea, including illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, smuggling of migrants, trafficking in persons and illicit trafficking in firearms, and such other illicit activities resulted in the loss of lives and puts an adverse effect on international trade and the global economy. Therefore it is important to emphasise on safeguarding the legitimate use of oceans and the lives of people at the sea.
Therefore the Security Council calls upon member states to consider the ratification and implementation of a global instrument as well as their participation in national, regional and global initiatives aiming at building a counter and preventive method against illicit trafficking of persons, natural resources, arms, drugs, cultural property and illicit trade in support of terrorism networks through the sea.
