Indo-Pacific maritime security and cooperation

Regional leaders and experts are focusing on strengthening maritime security and cooperation across the Indo-Pacific to protect sovereignty and supply chains.

At the South Pacific Defence Ministers’ Meeting, Pacific defense leaders expressed a commitment to deepening security cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners while prioritizing national sovereignty. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also noted the expanding global reach of the Indian Navy, calling for enhanced maritime surveillance to address sea congestion and ‘grey-zone activities.’

In New Delhi, experts at a maritime cooperation conference emphasized the need to secure maritime highways and develop alternative supply routes amid geopolitical crises. Discussions highlighted the significant economic impact of current instabilities, noting that chartering costs for large vessels have increased substantially. To mitigate these shocks, proposals were made to expand the scope of the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) by involving port authorities and customs agencies to better track disruptions in commercial shipping.