A week after the month-long presidency of India's United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads a debate on maritime security. (5.30 p.m. IST), in the presence of various heads of state and government, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Prime Minister Modi outlined a five-principle framework for the debate.
First, remove the barriers to maritime trade. In this context, Modi highlighted SAGAR (“Security and Growth for All in the Region”), an Indian framework for regional maritime security from 2015. “For free maritime trade, we must also fully respect the rights of seafarers from other countries respect, ”said Modi.
Second, Modi said that maritime disputes "must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law," adding that it is "extremely important to foster mutual trust and ensure world peace and stability".
Third, Mr. Modi suggested that countries work together to address maritime threats from non-state actors and natural disasters. "India's role in the Indian Ocean has been that of a network security provider," he said.
Fourth, Mr. Modi said the need to protect the marine environment and resources, highlighting pollution from plastic and oil spills.
Fifth, Mr. Modi called for responsible maritime connectivity, saying that a structure was needed to move maritime trade forward with the development of global norms and standards.