When it gets going ....it has to be MODITVA
India also ensured that interests of the entire African continent by inviting the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who represented the President of the DRC, in his capacity as Chair of the African Union, to brief the Council.
This helps India develop synergies with African nations on the issue of Maritime Security. PM had sent out a personal signed invite to the AU Chair inviting him to brief the UNSC.
New Delhi:
It was a new role for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. First Prime Minister of India to do so made it specially significant.
Earlier, P V NarasimhaRao as PM attended an UNSC meeting on Jan 31, 1992.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee had attended the UNSC meeting as foreign minister on September 29, 1978, when he had advocated for Namibian independence.
Presiding over the Open Debate on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Maritime Security on August 9, Mr Modi said in presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that - "We should remove barriers to maritime trade. Our prosperity depends on the active flow of maritime trade and also the free maritime trade is associated with the culture of India for time immemorial".
The UNSC opening a new vista adopted the first-ever presidential statement on maritime security soon after the Prime Minister chaired a virtual Open Debate focused on global cooperation for maritime security.
This too was a path-breaking milestone.
Past attempts by Vietnam (April 2021) and Equatorial Guinea (Feb 2019) for a full discussion did not succeed.
India took a responsible yet consensus building approach by initiating consultations amongst all UNSC members for several months in advance. A concept note was prepared that incorporated ideas of all.
Certainly adding a new feather in PM Modi's cap and showing the prowess of India's growing diplomatic wings, this episode marks the first ever outcome document by the UNSC on the issue of maritime security.
As per practices, the “Presidential Statement” has to be adopted unanimously.
The process was not smooth, with one Permanent-5 country holding out till the very end (on language related to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea - UNCLOS).
Thus, it can be said, "credit" ought to be given to India’s negotiators to be able to find language acceptable to all.
This certainly reaffirms India’s bridging role in the UNSC.
A total of 4 Heads of governments (2 Presidents and 2 PMs, including India), and 10 Ministers including (7 Foreign Ministers) participated at the Indian initiative in UNSC.
Among other things, the UNSC resolution says, the Security Council "commends" the efforts by regional and sub-regional organisations and individual countries to enhance maritime security including through sharing information in the maritime domain.
Russian President has participated in UNSC Debates only twice before, in September 2005 and September 2000.
His participation at the UNSC Debate after nearly 16 years at Indian PM chaired-event sends out a clear political message on the importance Russia places on the initiatives on Maritime Security in the UNSC and on bilateral relationship.
The US Permanent Representative holds Cabinet rank. Yet the participation by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is the senior-most Secretary in the US Cabinet, is also an important message.
In his speech, Modi maintained that barriers in maritime trades can pose a challenge to the entire global economy.
However, at the same time, he was also realistic.
"This shared heritage of ours (oceans) is facing several types of challenges. Maritime routes are being misused for piracy and terrorism," he said.
The Prime Minister pitched strongly for five basic principles based on trade, disputes, natural disasters, environment and connectivity.
"Oceans are our shared heritage and our maritime routes are the lifelines of international trade.
These oceans are very important for the future of our planet," he said.
ends
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