In August 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually chaired the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) High-level Open Debate on ‘Enhancing Maritime Security – A Case for International Cooperation’.
- As India holds the presidency of the UNSC for the month of August 2021, Narendra Modi presided over the maritime security debate.
- Narendra Modi was the 1st Indian PM to preside over a UNSC Open Debate.
PM’s Remarks at the UNSC debate:
He outlined 5 principle frameworks to preserve the common maritime heritage, and to frame a global roadmap of maritime security cooperation.
a.1st Principle:
i.At first, he remarked on the need to remove all the barriers from legitimate maritime trade to provide prosperity to all the countries through the active flow of maritime trade.
ii.He also stated about India’s strategic vision for the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) i.e. SAGAR – (Security and Growth for All in the Region).
- SAGAR was introduced in 2015 to strengthen the economic and security connections with its maritime neighbours. It has also provided a framework for the Safe, Secure and Stable maritime domain.
- Mission SAGAR was launched in May 2020 under SAGAR, to deliver COVID-19 related assistance to the countries in IOR.
- Under the mission, the Indian Naval Ship Kesari has visited Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros Islands, and Seychelles, and delivered medical assistance and food.
b.2nd Principle: He mentioned the need for settlement of maritime disputes on the only basis of international law (i.e. the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS)) to ensure global peace and stability.
c.3rd Principle: He stated the global community to act together for facing natural disasters and maritime threats that are created by non-State actors.
- He mentioned about – Indian Navy’s surveillance since 2008 against Piracy and India’s White Shipping Information Fusion Center’s information sharing for creating maritime domain awareness.
d.4th Principle: He insisted to increase cooperation in ocean science to preserve the maritime environment and overcome the direct impact on the ocean through climate, pollution, and plastic.
- He noted about India’s ‘Deep Ocean Mission’, which was launched in June 2021 to explore the deep ocean for resources and develop deep-sea technologies for sustainable use of ocean resources in the Indian Ocean.
e.5th Principle: PM required responsible maritime connectivity to boost maritime trade with the development of global norms and standards.
UNSC Adopted the Presidential Statement:
i.The 15-member body, UNSC unanimously adopted the Presidential Statement (PRST) on Maritime Security, which was given by Narendra Modi.
- This is the 1st comprehensive UNSC document on maritime security.
ii.The international law UNCLOS provides the legal framework for combating transnational organized crimes at sea including – illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, smuggling of migrants, and illicit trafficking in firearms.
iii.Participants: The open debate was attended virtually by Vladimir Putin, Russian President; Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State; Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, Chef de Cabinet of the UN Secretary-General, Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya; and Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of Vietnam.
iv.External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will chair United Nations Security Council (UNSC) special sessions on terrorism and peacekeeping on August 18 and 19.
Recent Related News:
On August 01, 2021, India, the non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), took over the presidency of the UNSC from France for the month of August 2021.
Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates(UAE) were elected by the 75th session of the General Assembly as the non-permanent members of the UNSC for the 2022-23 term.
About United Nations Security Council (UNSC):
- UNSC is the only U.N. body that can make legally binding decisions like imposing sanctions and authorizing use of force.
- India is the non-permanent member of the UNSC.
Establishment – 1945
Headquarters – New York, United States
India’s Permanent Representative to the UN – TS Tirumurti
