Multi-Agency Maritime Security Group

News Highlights 

Speaking at the first meeting of the Multi-Agency Maritime Security Group the National Security Advisor of India highlights the importance of a strong maritime system to become India a major power.

Multi-Agency Maritime Security Group Meeting

• Aim of Meeting – The meeting was held to discuss important policy matters impacting maritime security.
• Chairperson of Meeting – National Maritime Security Coordinator
• The meeting brought together senior officials from all 13 coastal states and Union territories, the Indian Navy, and several central agencies

National Security Advisor Recommendations at Multi-Agency Maritime Security Group Meeting

• Need of strengthening India’s maritime capabilities to cope with growing competition and potential clashes in the Indian Ocean
• Seamless coordination between agencies responsible for protecting maritime interests like the navy is also necessary for bolstering India’s maritime security apparatus 

• Security on the high seas and the country’s economic well-being are inextricably linked and all stakeholders in this field must work unitedly.
• The land and maritime border are equally important.
• More importance should be given to regional initiatives like Colombo Conclave and SAGAR Vision. 

Need of Coordination

• The backdrop of mounting concerns across the Indo-Pacific over China’s growing assertiveness as well as the Chinese navy’s activities in the Indian Ocean.
• The issue of greater coordination between state and central agencies responsible for maritime security has been in focus since the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

Challenges as Per NSA

• One of the biggest challenges, according to the NSA, is denying access to foreign intelligence organizations that want to conduct espionage operations. 

Way to Solve the Challenge

• Creation of standard operating procedures and argued that while addressing issues with marine security, all parties and authorities should communicate in the same language.
• There is also a requirement for a common operational picture, and “access to data banks

What is Maritime Security?

• Maritime security is a general term for the protection of vessels both internally and externally. 
• The areas from which ships and maritime operations need protecting include terrorism, piracy, robbery, illegal trafficking of goods and people, illegal fishing, and pollution

Threats to Maritime Security 

• Traditional Maritime Threats
  • Pakistan 
    • Intrusion into territorial waters of India and unauthorized fishing in the region. For example, Pakistan vessels on the Gujarat coast and the Sir Creek region.
  • China
    • Growing Chinese presence in the Indian Ocean Region through the String of Pearls strategy. One such threat is Gwadar port in Pakistan.
• Non-Traditional Maritime Threats
  • Man-Made Threats 
    • Piracy, hostage-taking for ransom, armed robbery, drug-running, human trafficking, environmental pollution of the oceans, as also illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. For example, Somalian pirates in the Horn of Africa region.
  • Natural Calamities and Disasters
    • These may take the form of cyclones, tsunamis, global-warming-induced rise of sea level and resultant inundation of land areas, undue salination of soil and potable water in coastal areas, etc.

Steps Taken to Ensure Maritime Security

• Mission-Based Deployments
  • Indian Naval ships and aircraft are regularly deployed on ‘Mission Based Deployments’ in the Indian Ocean Region to enhance maritime security.
  •  It also undertakes surveillance to enhance Maritime Domain Awareness and address contingencies that may arise.
• Security and Growth for All in the  Region (SAGAR)  and the Maritime Security Strategy
  •  To build its role as the ‘Preferred Security Partner’ in our extended maritime neighborhood.
• Operational interactions with friendly foreign countries
  • It includes activities like Joint Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) Surveillance, Coordinated Patrols on an annual/bi-annual basis along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), Maritime Exercises, etc.

Content Source: Indian Express

Content Source: Indian Express