India & Liberia Unite at UNGA for Global Seafarer Safety 🚢🌍
India & Liberia Unite at UNGA for Global Seafarer Safety 🚢🌍
India and Liberia launch a crucial UN-backed group at UNGA to combat rising attacks on ships and protect seafarers worldwide. EAM Jaishankar issues a strong call for global action against these indefensible incidents.
India and Liberia have joined forces on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s High-Level Week in New York to establish a new initiative aimed at safeguarding seafarers and commercial shipping. This collaborative effort has led to the formation of the 'Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers', designed to draw urgent global attention to the escalating threats faced by maritime trade.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar delivered a powerful message at the UNGA, condemning the recent surge in attacks on civilian vessels and their crews. He stressed that these acts, which disrupt maritime commerce and tragically claim innocent lives, are "simply indefensible." Jaishankar urged the international community to unite and deter such attacks, emphasizing that these are no longer isolated occurrences.
The Minister highlighted several harrowing incidents to underscore the gravity of the situation.
Just days prior, an Indian sailor lost his life during an attack on the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier MV Cape Dow in the Gulf of Oman. He also recounted the case of the Panama-flagged oil tanker El Gaia, attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, which resulted in an Indian crew member being reported missing.
Beyond these, Jaishankar pointed to a pattern of repeated attacks on commercial shipping and mariners in key waterways including the Gulf, the Red Sea, and their vicinities over recent months. The Black Sea has also seen tragic incidents, with the MV Omorfi being hit on July 18th in Russian territorial waters, leading to the death of its chief officer, an Indian national.
The very next day, the MV Golden Leo was struck after leaving Odessa, claiming the lives of four Indian seafarers.
These incidents demonstrate that seafarers of various nationalities are being impacted, with lives lost and maritime trade severely disrupted.
The newly formed 'Group of Friends' aims to be a crucial platform for countries to "close ranks" and develop collective strategies to enhance the safety and security of shipping lanes and protect the vital personnel who navigate them, ensuring the free flow of global commerce.
