Foreign Secretary’s Remarks at the Goa
Maritime Conclave on ‘Maritime Security and Emerging Non Traditional
Threats: A Case for Proactive Role for IOR Navies’, Naval War College,
Goa, November 08, 2021
Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy, Admiral Karambir Singh
Defence Secretary of India, Dr. Ajay Kumar
Assistant Chief of Naval Staff Operations of Bangladesh, Rear Admiral M
Ashraful Haq
Commander of the Comorian Coast Guard, Cdr Moudjib-Rahmane Adaine
Commander of the Naval Staff and Command College of Indonesia, Rear
Admiral Tunggul Suropati
Chief of the Malagasy Navy, Rear Admiral GA Jacquy Honore
Chief of Defence Force, MNDF of Maldives, Maj Gen Abdulla Shamaal
Captain Saharudin Bin Bongsu RMN from Royal Malaysian Navy
Acting Commissioner of Police of Mauritius, Mr. Anilkumarsing DIP
Commander in Chief of Myanmar, Admiral Moe Aung
Chief of Defence of the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces, Brig
Michael Anselme Marc Rosette
Chief of Singapore Navy, Rear Admiral Aaron Beng
Commander of the Navy, Sri Lankan Navy, Vice Admiral DNS Ulugentenne
Defence Attache, Embassy of Thailand, Capt. Jakarin Khowrat, RTN
It is a great privilege for me to speak to you at the 3rd edition of
the Goa Maritime Conclave. I would like to congratulate the Chief of
Naval Staff for hosting this important event which brings together our
close friends in the Indian Ocean Region. I would also like to thank
him for providing me this opportunity to interact with this eminent
audience of admirals and senior maritime security leaders. I take this
opportunity to extend my warm greetings to the Navy Chiefs and other
senior officials attending the conclave from our partner countries in
the Indian Ocean region.
2. Seapower, to paraphrase the famed naval thinker, Alfred Thayer
Mahan, has always influenced history. Empires have risen and fallen as
they lost command of the seas. The Persians never really recovered from
the naval battle with the Greek city-states at Salamis. The Ottoman
empire was checked at Lepanto in 1571. Trafalgar, in 1805, marked the
beginning of the end for Napoleon. American naval supremacy in the
Pacific began with their legendary victory in Midway in 1942. The
British empire was made possible by Britannia ruling the waves.
3. India’s historical experience recounts regular and steady maritime
interactions from Zanzibar off the coast of Africa, to the shores of
the Arabian peninsula, all the way through the Andaman Sea to the
mainland and islands of South East Asia. People, faiths, ideas,
mythologies, art, architecture - and goods - have always moved back and
forth.
4. We do not just share geography and experience. We are also partners
in one of the most exciting economic transformations in history. This
is the century of Asia and Africa. The Indian Ocean Region is a space
that both these continents share. It bridges two very consequential
economic spaces.
5. As countries of the Indian Ocean Region, we also inhabit a
particular contemporary geopolitical and geoeconomic reality. We are a
part of the greater Indo-Pacific space. This is a construct that has,
for very good reason, attracted much diplomatic and strategic
attention.
6. It is at the center of a defining strategic event of our time - an
ongoing rebalancing. The rapid growth of Asia’s share in global output,
the business prowess of Asian companies and the growing Asian
technological abilities are driving the global economic center of
gravity to the East.
7. Change of this nature is bound to have geopolitical and geoeconomic
consequences and generate a power transition. The transition is
manifest in the waning of the "unipolar moment” following the end of
the Cold War and in the emergence of a multipolar world.
Friends,
8. Empirically speaking, crises accelerate transitions and the
emergence of new realities. The Covid pandemic is certainly the
greatest shock in the memories of our generation. It locked down an
entire planet, destroyed lives, claimed livelihoods, closed schools and
educational institutes, and accentuated faultlines in many
enviromments.
9. Paradoxically, this is also a moment of opportunity. Empirically
speaking again, all crises are succeeded by periods of growth.
10. The Great Depression and the Second World War were followed by
sustained economic growth. Major health crises have led to investments
in medical science and public health that have transformed our lives.
11. Major economies are on the rebound.
12. Automation, computers and information technology have allowed
introduction of efficiencies and scale that boggle the mind.
13. Vaccines have been researched, tested, manufactured and deployed on
a historically unprecedented scale.
Friends,
14. Maritime transport and logistics are a major component of the Blue
Economy. It is of particular importance to us in this room. Half of the
world’s container ships, one third of the world’s bulk cargo traffic
and two thirds of the world’s oil shipments traverse the Indian Ocean
Region.
15. The pandemic has highlighted both the opportunity and the
vulnerabilities of this sector. It has been pointed out that modern
container vessels lift a greater tonnage, and move greater distances
much more quickly, than the entire merchant fleets of nations a few
centuries ago. The historian Yuval Noah Hariri has written that in
1582, the English merchant fleet had a total carrying capacity of
68,000 tons and required about 16,000 sailors. There are vessels in
operation today that can carry 200,000 tonnes and require a crew of 22.
A supertanker can carry more than a million barrels of oil with a crew
of approximately the same size.
16. As we all know, these massive logistical capacities cushioned some
of the impacts of the pandemic.
17. We have, however, now become painfully aware that the economic
rebound is being stressed by shipping delays and shortages of
containers.
18. This combination of opportunity and vulnerability is something that
we will have to accommodate in our priorities and policies and to build
in resilience, sustainability and reliability in our supply chain.
Friends,
19. The pandemic has also highlighted another imperative of a
multipolar world – the need to work together. Rebalancing is leading to
a dispersal of capacities, including to nations that are represented in
this audience. Every one of us present here have a growing ability to
come up with common solutions to common problems.
20. That means we are able to do more together.
21. We have already been pooling our efforts. All the nations
represented at this Conclave are members of either the Indian Ocean Rim
Association or of BIMSTEC. Several are members of both.
22. Both IORA and BIMSTEC have a strong focus, relevant to this
conclave, on maritime security.
23. The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, similarly, has working groups on
HADR, Maritime Security and Information sharing and inter-operability.
Friends,
24. Security in the context of foreign policy or diplomacy has
traditionally been associated with countering external security threats
- primarily military. Historically, diplomatic efforts to improve
security have been about negotiating security alliances.
25. We now operate on the basis of an expanded concept of human
security that takes a broader view.
26. We are in the process of devising a new set of measures and
arrangements that reflect this understanding of security. They are
based less on the traditional concept of a military alliance and more
on a cooperative approach, on prevention, on sharing of information,
and, on promoting inter-operability across state borders.
27. Many of these cooperative activities that we undertake are in the
policing and law-enforcement spheres.
28. It is my belief that these measures are more appropriate to the
newer and rapidly evolving threat matrix that we are confronted with.
Friends,
29. An audience like this would also appreciate that new threats and
security challenges are continuously emerging.
30. Non-traditional threats and new technologies have combined to form
a whole new spectrum of sub-conventional security threats and problems.
31. New players have also emerged. Transnational crime syndicates
conduct human trafficking, smuggling, narcotics and IUU operations on
an expanded scale. They have, in effect, become non-state actors
working diligently to diminish security and well-being in the region.
32. The blue economy potential of the region has, while creating
opportunity and prosperity, generated vulnerabilities.
33. Irresponsible fishing is damaging our food security.
34. More commerce means more accidents. It means more pollution such as
those caused by oil spills.
35. The blue economy supports and increased number of coastal economic
and population centres. Natural disasters can and do affect them.
36. They also provide targets for terrorists, supported and encouraged
by the resources of governments. Using the oceans to move and
infiltrate, they threaten offshore and coastal assets.
37. Such terrorists tend to combine with transnational criminals. These
alliances escalate instability and violence levels exponentially.
38. Another set of challenges arises from geopolitical volatilities. A
lack of commitment to settled international law has led to an increased
militarization of the region. Militarization always adds to
complexities.
39. The Indian Ocean Region, it is quite obvious, will face an
increasingly complicated, rapidly evolving, and more demanding security
situation, with an ever increasing battery of threats and
uncertainties.
Friends,
40. This requires all of us, and in particular the navies, the coast
guards and the maritime security agencies of this region, to do more
together.
41. India stands ready and willing to do its share – and more – in
tackling these problems.
42. We cannot anticipate each and every problem that will arise. We can
however work on strengthening the structures, the understandings, the
procedures, and the resources, that are deployed. This will enable us
to better manage known problems. It will also enable us to create a
"surge” capacity to deal with the unknown.
43. I have referred to some of the plurilateral and cooperative
structures with a focus on maritime security that are in place and are
growing.
44. A number of specific areas of cooperation have shown encouraging
results. They point towards directions in which we can intensify joint
efforts, leverage each other’s strengths, and generate synergies.
45. Domain awareness is central to any preventive security strategy.
The joint coastal radar surveillance systems that India has worked on
with Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Maldives and Seychelles; the
India-Bangladesh MoU on coastal radars; information fusion centers and
multilateral maritime coordination centers in India, in Abu Dhabi,
Seychelles and in Madagascar; and, White Shipping Information Exchange
agreements, have, we can agree, improve not just domain awareness, but
also the security situation.
46. Anti-piracy patrols in the Indian Ocean, in the waters of the
Middle East and Africa, and the maritime coordinated patrolling
agreements with Myanmar, Thailand, Bangladesh, and Indonesia, also
improve security and understanding.
47. We have worked and are willing to work with partners on improving
EEZ surveillance.
48. We are willing to work with partners in upgrading maritime hardware
and software. We have supplied equipment, vessels and aircraft to
friends like Vietnam, Mozambique, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles,
Comoros, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
49. We have also worked together to conduct training programmes,
workshops and seminars and deploy mobile training teams.
50. Institutional dialogues between maritime security agencies in
partner countries help build relationships and processes that
contribute to improvement of security related outcomes. An increasing
number of such dialogues are taking place.
51. Dialogues and other mechanisms help in the generation of SOPs and
promotion of interoperability. The maritime security conclave involving
India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and other regional partners is one such
example.
52. They also add to the number and scope of joint activities and
exercises. IORA members have participated and continue to participate
in a number of exercises to jointly enhance their capabilities.
53. Exercises, such as those on Pollution Control and Maritime Search
and Rescue, test SOPs, generate more of them and augment
interoperability.
54. These have helped Indian teams in combating maritime pollution
incidents in Mauritiun and Sri Lanka waters in the recent past.
Friends,
55. The pandemic demonstrated, like few other events could, the
importance of our capacity to mount HADR operations, and assist each
other.
56. India has been called upon to respond to situations in our extended
neighbourhood. This is a demonstration of solidarity with partners and
of commitment to the principles of humanitarianism. India also believes
that alleviating suffering is central to reducing insecurity and
building trust and confidence in keeping with our philosophy of
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, or the world is one family.
57. Some recent operations conducted by India include those in Sri
Lanka following Cyclone Roanu in 2016 and floods in 2017; in 2017 and
2018 to assist Bangladesh which had received large number of displaced
persons from Rakhine State in Myanmar; following natural disasters in
this region such as Cyclones Sidr, Nargis, Phailin, and Mora. India has
deployed assets for HADR operations in an arc that extends from Banda
Aceh to Indonesia, and even further beyond to Fiji, all the way to
Mozambique.
58. Instability, insecurity and humanitarian crises have also forced us
to conduct a number of complex and demanding evacuation operations.
59. More recently, our hosts, the Indian Navy, launched Mission Sagar
during the pandemic to Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar,
Sudan, SouthSudan, Djibouti, Eritrea, and Comoros.
60. India also deployed Rapid Response teams during this period to
several countries, including Comoros, Kuwait, Maldives, and Mauritius.
61. India provided critical healthcare products, including vaccines,
often in the face of daunting logistical challenges, to 150 countries.
62. You would be happy to note that India is committed to supplying
vaccines to our partners, including those in the region. PM Narendra
Modi announced at the G-20 Summit, India’s plan to manufacture 5
billion vaccines in 2022.
Friends,
63. The operational and institutional framework to respond to the
challenges being discussed in this very important conclave requires a
normative basis.
64. India is currently serving a non-permanent tenure in the United
Nations Security Council. During our Presidency of the UN Security
Council in August this year, the Prime Minister chaired a high level
open debate on Maritime Security.
65. I would like to quote from his remarks that explain our thinking at
the highest level. The Prime Minister said that "The ocean is our joint
heritage. Our sea routes are the lifeline of international trade. And,
the biggest thing is that these oceans are very important for the
future of our planet.But today our shared maritime heritage is facing
many challenges. Sea routes are being misused for piracy and terrorism.
There are maritime disputes between many countries. And climate change
and natural disasters are also maritime domain related issues. In this
broad context, we must make a framework of mutual understanding and
cooperation for the preservation and use of our common maritime
heritage. No country can make such a framework alone. It can only be
realized through a common effort.”
66. The Prime Minister went on to place five principles that define our
approach to maritime security. These are:-
• Removal of barriers for legitimate maritime trade;
• Settlement of maritime disputes peacefully and only on the basis of
international law;
• Collectively address natural disasters and maritime threats by
non-state actors;
• Preserving maritime environment and maritime resources by addressing
ocean pollution, oil-spills, over-fishing, and increasing cooperation
in ocean science; and,
• Encourage responsible maritime connectivity based on sustainability
and absorption capacity of countries.
67. Delegates might also be familiar with Prime Minister Modi’s vision
of SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region) wherein India
called for a free, open and inclusive order in the Indo-Pacific, based
upon respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations,
peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue and adherence to
international rules and laws.
68. India’s concept of the Indo Pacific is inclusive in nature, and
supports an approach that respects the right to freedom of navigation
and overflight for all in the international seas.
69. India’s Indo Pacific vision is premised upon the principle of
‘ASEAN-Centrality’.
70. India’s approach is based on cooperation and collaboration, given
the need for shared responses to shared challenges in the region.
Friends,
71. The approach to maritime security articulated by Prime Minister,
the vision of SAGAR, and the central ideas underlying our bilateral and
plurilateral initiatives, constitute a complementary set of principles.
These, together, with India’s commitment to UNCLOS and customary law of
the seas, provide a direction and a framework for efforts to enhance
public good in the Indian Ocean Region and the broader Indo-Pacific.
Friends,
72. In conclusion, I would like to repeat again what the Prime Minister
said at the UN Security Council that the creation of a framework can be
made by any one country and that it requires a common effort.
73. I began by referring to the importance of seapower and to the
moment of opportunity for all us in the Indian Ocean Region to benefit
from shifting economic currents.
74. Prosperity, and the well-being of our people, is built on the
foundation of law and order and security. A new cooperative
architecture for our common maritime space that ensures security for
its inhabitants, driven by our realities, and our aspirations to lead
better lives, is necessary to grasp this opportunity.
75. Opportunities tend to have expiry dates. We must, as fellow
travelers in a voyage, work swiftly to ride these momentarily favorable
tides and currents. If we are able to do so, we in the Indian Ocean
Region, through common effort, may be able to set ourselves on a
trajectory to improved futures.
76. I would like to end by quoting the motto of our hosts, the Indian
Navy, "Sam no Varuna” and invoke the blessings of the mighty Varuna,
the Lord of the Seas, on the participants of the conclave, the forces
and agencies they represent, and on the proceedings of this conclave.
Thank you.
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