On Friday 21 March, the European Union and India held their fourth dialogue in New Delhi on maritime safety to discuss developments in the situation in Europe and the Indian Ocean.
The two parties discussed cooperation in the fight against illegal activities and the protection of critical maritime infrastructures. They discussed activities within regional forums on maritime safety, as well as cooperation on maritime domain awareness.
“The EU and India are committed to a free, open, inclusive and rules-based maritime order in the Indo-Pacific region”, says a press release from the European External Action Service (EEAS).
Both parties insisted on respect for territorial integrity, sovereignty, democracy, the rule of law and the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The meeting was co-chaired by Maciej Stadejek, Director of Security and Defence Policy at the EEAS, and Muanpuii Saiawi, Joint Secretary for Disarmament and International Security Affairs at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)