External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Wednesday shared India’s vision for a secure and resilient maritime domain during the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) Outreach Session on Maritime Security and Prosperity held in Niagara, Canada.
Addressing the session, Dr. Jaishankar underlined India’s commitment to ensuring safe and open waterways that are vital to global trade and economic stability. He elaborated on India’s MAHASAGAR outlook — a comprehensive approach to maritime security and Indo-Pacific cooperation — as well as the country’s port-led development initiatives designed to enhance connectivity and economic growth.
Emphasising the importance of “trusted and diversified maritime links,” he noted India’s ongoing efforts to modernise its shipping infrastructure and build resilient trade corridors that can withstand geopolitical and economic disruptions.
The Minister called for greater coordination among nations to protect critical maritime and undersea infrastructure, while flagging emerging concerns such as piracy, smuggling, and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. These maritime threats and economic crimes, he said, demand stronger and more coordinated international responses.
Highlighting India’s role as a “first responder in the maritime domain,” Dr. Jaishankar reaffirmed New Delhi’s commitment to strengthening humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) partnerships in the Indo-Pacific through joint exercises, logistics agreements, and capacity-building initiatives.
He further underscored the pivotal role of maritime trade in national and global prosperity, stating that resilient ports and secure waterways form the backbone of a stable and inclusive global economy.
Reiterating India’s support for a rules-based maritime order, the Minister stressed that “UNCLOS must be upheld,” referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which serves as the international legal framework for all marine and maritime activities.
On the sidelines of the G7 meeting, Dr. Jaishankar also met Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, with discussions focusing on strengthening bilateral ties, regional developments, connectivity, and energy cooperation.
