- Monday, February 24, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
INDIAN prime minister Narendra Modi on Monday (9) laid out five principles, including removing barriers for maritime trade and peaceful settlement of disputes, while chairing a high-level United Nations Security Council (UNSC) open debate. India is serving as the president of the 15-member council for the month of August and Modi became the first-ever Indian prime minister to preside over the council, according to the prime minister’s office.
In his statement while chairing the debate on “Enhancing Maritime Security – A Case for International Cooperation” via video conferencing, the Indian prime minister highlighted that the maritime routes were being misused for terrorism and privacy.
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He said that the oceans are the world’s common heritage and sea routes are the lifeline of international trade. Underlining that countries’ shared maritime heritage is facing many challenges, Modi forwarded his principles, on the basis of which, he said, a global roadmap for maritime-security cooperation can be prepared.
“We should remove barriers for legitimate maritime trade. Global prosperity depends on the active flow of maritime trade. Any hindrance in maritime trade can threaten the global economy,” Modi said elaborating while the first principle.
The second principle, the 70-year-old said, was that the settlement of maritime disputes should be peaceful and on the basis of international law.
“This is very important for mutual trust and confidence. This is the only way we can ensure global peace and stability,” he said.
According to Modi, the third key principle was that the global community should face natural disasters and maritime threats created by non-State actors together. India has taken several steps to enhance regional cooperation on this subject, he added.
Preserving the maritime environment and maritime resources and encouraging responsible maritime connectivity were the fourth and fifth principles that the prime minister uttered.
The security council meeting was attended by several heads of state and government of member states of the body and high-level briefers from the UN system and key regional organisations. Russian president Vladimir Putin was also present.
The UNSC has discussed and passed resolutions on different aspects of maritime security and maritime crime in the past but this is the first time that maritime security was discussed as an exclusive agenda item at a high-level debate.
