 "The Indian Navy will deployed multiple assets for Operation Trishul. File image/Reuters")
Speaking at a United Nations Security Council session on maritime safety, India’s Permanent Representative Parvathaneni Harish underscored the Indian Navy’s pivotal role in safeguarding global sea routes amid a surge in piracy and attacks across the Western Arabian Sea.
Harish told the Council that India has dramatically stepped up its maritime security presence in recent years. “Over the last two years, in response to shipping attacks and rising incidents of piracy in the Western Arabian Sea, the Indian Navy has deployed over 35 ships in the region, carried out more than 1000 boarding operations and has responded to over 35 incidents,” he said at the meeting co-hosted by Greece, the Philippines, Denmark, Japan, Panama and Romania.
He stressed that the Navy’s rapid and high-risk operations have protected lives across nationalities. “The credible and swift actions of the Indian Navy have saved more than 520 lives, irrespective of nationality,” he noted. Harish added that “since November 2023, the Indian Navy has safely escorted over 367 merchant vessels, carrying over 14.7 million metric tonnes of cargo, valued at over 6.3 billion dollars.”
The discussions came amid escalating instability in major sea lanes—from Houthi missile and drone attacks in the Red Sea to a resurgence of piracy near the Somalia coast—putting global commerce and the safety of thousands of seafarers under strain.
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View AllHarish highlighted the role of the Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in enabling real-time intelligence sharing and improving coordinated maritime responses.
He also showcased India’s ‘Sagar Mein Samman’ initiative under the Maritime India Vision 2030, citing gender-sensitive reforms, improved safety standards and the deployment of an all-women ship crew as markers of India’s evolving maritime policy.
“India stands ready to work with the international community to strengthen seafarer protection, promote gender equality and improve the lives of those who serve aboard ships,” he said, linking these efforts to India’s broader MAHASAGAR vision—“Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.”