UNSC Meeting Today: PM Modi Set To Chair Open Debate On Maritime Security, A First For India

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead an important meeting of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Maritime Security today. The meeting on Maritime Security is being done in order to set an agenda. Monday’s UNSC meeting has become crucial in the wake of heightened tensions between Iran and Israel over the attack on an oil tanker in the Gulf.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the Security Council meeting will focus on ways to reduce crime and security in the Maritime sector and enhanced coordination.

The meeting will be attended by several heads of state, representatives of several governments, senior UN functionaries, and representatives of several regional organizations.

Maritime Security On Agenda 

The UN’s most powerful body, the Security Council, has passed resolutions on Maritime Security several times. But this will be the first time the subject has been put on the agenda for a comprehensive debate on a consolidated scale.

According to Ministry of External Affairs officials, India believes that no single country can decide on Maritime Security, so there is a need to comprehensively discuss and agree on this subject. 

India has also been in favor of a global policy formulated from an integrated perspective that while protecting legitimate activities on the issue of Maritime Security, action against traditional and non-conventional threats will also strengthen the key system.

Attempt To Advance Concept Of SAGAR

On the pretext of a special meeting on maritime security, India is also trying to advance the concept of SAGAR, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been talking about since 2015. Security And Growth For All in the Region (SAGAR) is a concept that has security and development opportunities for all.

The same idea of SAGAR was taken forward during the 2019 East Asia Summit and was given the shape of the Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative.

It has set 7 key pillars, including Marine Ecology, Marine Resources, Capacity Expansion, Resource Sharing, Disaster Control Measures, and coordination between Management Science and Technology Educational institutions, Business Connectivity, and Maritime Transport.

First Indian PM To Chair UNSC Meet

In a statement issued ahead of the meeting, the External Affairs Ministry said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the first Indian Prime Minister to preside over an open debate in the UN Security Council. The meeting will begin at 5:30 PM IST.

However, in addition to the broader themes of Maritime Security, an immediate challenge for the Security Council is the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel. The tension is due to an alleged attack on an oil tanker in the past that killed two Romanians and a British national.

For this attack, not only Israel, but the permanent member countries of the Security Council like Britain and America are also blaming Iran for the drone attack.  

While Israel has threatened to retaliate against Iran, Iran, which is denying any such drone strikes, has asked the Security Council to stop Israel from taking any action that would escalate regional tensions and instability. In such a situation, India will have to lead the efforts to reduce tension in the Security Council.

Issue Of South China Sea  

However, on the pretext of this brainstorming on Maritime Security, many countries will also get an opportunity to express their views on the issue of Chinese bullying in the South China Sea. Vietnam, in particular, will also get an opportunity who has a dispute with China over the Parcel and Spratley islands.