Overview
- India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Parvathaneni Harish, emphasized that maritime security and counter-terrorism are vital to India’s national and economic interests.
- India’s strategy addresses both state and non-state threats, including piracy, smuggling, trafficking, illegal fishing, and maritime terrorism, under the MAHASAGAR vision.
- The Indian Navy has deployed over 35 ships, conducted 1,000+ boarding operations, and safeguarded $5.3 billion in cargo across the Western Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean Region.
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted a 47.5% rise in maritime incidents in Q1 2025, with piracy and armed attacks increasing in critical sea lanes like the Strait of Malacca.
- India’s commitment to a rules-based maritime order under UNCLOS and its recent AIKYAME exercise with African nations underscore its focus on international cooperation and capacity-building.