A SECURE INDIAN OCEAN: UNSC
Recently, India has proposed to convene an open debate of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on enhancing maritime security. The objective of this debate is to highlight effective international maritime cooperation to respond holistically to natural and manmade threats to maritime security. It also reflects India’s international evolution as a maritime nation.
IMPORTANCE OF INDIAN OCEAN FOR INDIA
Long Maritime Boundary: With a coastline of over 7,500 km, India has a natural interest in enhancing maritime security.
Securing Sea lanes of Communication: In the Indian Ocean, three major Sea Lanes Of Communication (SLOCS) play a crucial role in the energy security and economic prosperity: SLOC connecting the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean through the Bab al-Mandab (that transports the bulk of Asia’s international trade with its major trading partners in Europe and America), SLOC connecting the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean through the Strait of Hormuz (transporting the bulk of energy exports to major import destinations like India, ASEAN, and East Asia), SLOC connecting the Indian and Pacific Oceans through the Straits of Malacca (integral to the smooth flow of trade with ASEAN, East Asia, Russia’s Far East and the US). The Indian Ocean region transports 75% of the world’s maritime trade and 50% of daily global oil consumption.
INDIA'S MARITIME INITIATIVES
Disaster Management: The fallout of the 2004 tsunami, which took a heavy toll on human and natural resources, led to the creation of an Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System by the UN in 2005. Through this, an international network seeks to prevent a recurrence of such devastation.
Anti-Piracy Operations: Faced with the increased threat from piracy originating off the coast of Somalia since 2007 to shipping in the western Indian Ocean, the Indian Navy participated robustly as part of a UNSC mandated 60-country Contact Group on Piracy off the coast of Somalia.
Security and Growth for All (SAGAR) Policy: India’s SAGAR policy is an integrated regional framework, unveiled by Indian Prime Minister during a visit to Mauritius in March 2015. The pillars of SAGAR are:
India’s role as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean region (IOR). India would continue to enhance the maritime security capacities and economic resilience of friendly countries in IOR. A more integrated and cooperative focus on the future of the IOR, which would enhance the prospects for the sustainable development of all countries in the region. The primary responsibility for peace, stability and prosperity in the IOR would be on those “who live in this region”. Abiding by the International Law: India accepted an United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) tribunal award on the maritime boundary arbitration between India and Bangladesh. It envisaged contributing a new impulse to effective international economic cooperation among the littoral states of the Bay of Bengal (BIMSTEC).
Data Sharing: Sharing data on threats to commercial shipping is an important component of enhancing maritime security. In this context, India established an International Fusion Centre (IFC) for the Indian Ocean region in Gurugram in 2018. IFC is jointly administered by the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard. IFC serves the objective of generating Maritime Domain Awareness on safety and security issues.
BLUE ECONOMY VS OCEAN ECONOMY
The ‘Blue Economy’ is an emerging concept which encourages better stewardship of our ocean or ‘blue’ resources. Similar to the ‘Green Economy’, the blue economy model aims for improvement of human wellbeing and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. International society believes that the blue economy covers three economic forms:
- Economy coping with global water crisis
- Innovative development economy
- Development of marine economy
It is important to note that the blue economy goes beyond viewing the ocean economy solely as a mechanism for economic growth. In the ocean economy model, large-scale industrial nations sought to exploit the maritime and marine resources, often without a view to the effects their activities have on the future health or productivity of those same resources. For example through shipping, commercial fishing, and the oil, gas, minerals and mining industries. The blue economy is not just about market opportunities; it also provides for the protection and development of more intangible ‘blue’ resources.
SIGNIFICANCE OF BLUE ECONOMY
High Return on Investment: New research commissioned by the high-level panel for a sustainable ocean economy, co-chaired by the Norwegian Prime Minister (PM), shows that every dollar invested in key ocean activities yields five times i.e. $5 in return, often more. It is for good reason that the Government of India (GOI)’s Vision of New India by 2030 highlighted the Blue Economy as one of the 10 core dimensions of growth.
Synergy With SDG: It supports all of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG14 ‘life below water’.
Sustainable Energy: Supporting the increasing demand for renewable energy, offshore regions have tremendous potential in the form of offshore wind, waves, ocean currents including tidal currents, and thermal energy.
Importance For India: With an over 7,500-km-long coastline spread across nine coastal states, 12 major, and 200 minor ports, India's blue economy supports 95% of the country's business through transportation and contributes an estimated 4% to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP). All the sectors across the blue economy have the potential to engage a large workforce and have been doing so from the past many decades at least in sectors such as fishing, aquaculture, fish processing, marine tourism, shipping and port activities. Now, engagement in new sectors such as offshore wind, marine biology, biotechnology, and other activities like shipbuilding and ship breaking is also rising extensively.
CONCLUSION
- International Cooperation: Sustaining international cooperation to enhance maritime security requires two supportive frameworks in the policy and operational areas.
- Rule-of-law Based Approach: There is a need to review the operational effectiveness of the UNCLOS. Especially regarding the enforcement of its provisions on freedom of navigation, the sustainable exploitation of maritime resources, and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
- Securing the Sea Lanes of Communication: Securing SLOCs that traverse the oceans is of central importance to enhancing maritime security.
- Thus, the global debate must focus on ensuring equal and unrestricted access to SLOCs by states while resolving differences through peaceful means.
- Engaging Private Sector: There is a need for an increasing role of the private sector in the maritime domain, whether it is in shipping, sustainable development through the Blue Economy. Further, the use of the maritime domain can be leveraged to provide the critical submarine fibre-optic cables supporting the Digital Economy. The ability of the UNSC to respond to the debate by endorsing a multiple stakeholder approach to enhancing maritime security would be a significant outcome, setting a paradigm for upholding “multi-dimensional” security in the 21st century.
TEST YOURSELF
Q.1 Recently, India has proposed to convene an open debate of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on enhancing maritime security. Which of the following is/are correct regarding the objective of the debate?
- The objective of this debate is to highlight effective international maritime cooperation to respond holistically to natural and manmade threats to maritime security.
- It also reflects India’s international evolution as a maritime nation.
- Only I follows
- Only II follows
- Both I & II follows: ANSWER
- None of the following
Q.2 __________ also known as Law of the Sea divides marine areas into five main zones namely- Internal Waters, Territorial Sea, Contiguous Zone, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the High Seas.
- United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS): ANSWER
- World Maritime Organization
- Indian Ocean Rim Association
- None of the following
Q.3 Which of the following policies is an integrated regional framework, unveiled by Indian Prime Minister during a visit to Mauritius in March 2015?
- Mission Sagarmala
- Mission Security and Growth for All (SAGAR): ANSWER
- Mission Bharatmala
- None of the above
Q.4 Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved which of the following Ministries' proposals on the Deep Ocean Mission (DOM)?
- Ministry of Water Resources & River Development
- Ministry of Earth Sciences: ANSWER
- Ministry of Jal Shakti
- None of the following
Q.5 Consider the given statements & state which of the following is/are correct in the context of the above mentioned passage?
- The blue economy, which consists of economic activities dependent on marine resources, comprises 4.1% of India’s economy.
- Blue Economy is the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, and ocean ecosystem health.
- Only I follows
- Only II follows
- Both I & II follows: ANSWER
- Neither I nor II follows
