New Delhi, Jan 20 (UNI) India and France held the 7th Maritime Cooperation Dialogue in New Delhi on January 14, during which both sides reaffirmed their shared vision for maritime security, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and protecting freedom of navigation.
The Dialogue was co-chaired by Pavan Kapoor, Deputy National Security Advisor, National Security Council Secretariat, India, andAlice Rufo, Director General for International Relations and Strategy, Ministry for the Armed Forces, France.
Both sides discussed enhancing their cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region and reaffirmed their shared vision for maritime security, a key element of the India - France Strategic Partnership. India and France reiterated their strong commitment to upholding international law, supporting multilateralism, including through regional organisations, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and protecting freedom of navigation, a statement said.
Recalling their vision for a free and open Indian Ocean Region, first expressed in the ‘Joint Strategic Vision of India-France Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region’ in 2018, India and France agreed to support free and secure access to sea lanes of communications through collaboration between their maritime assets and organisations. France welcomed the participation of the Indian Navy in the Combined Maritime Forces and looks forward to India’s leadership of the appropriate Combined Task Forces.
India and France agreed to develop a joint assessment of the threats to maritime security in the region; to counter illicit maritime activities, including piracy and armed robbery, maritime terrorism, contraband smuggling, Illegal Unreported and Unregulated fishing; hybrid as well as cyber security threats and marine pollution.
Both sides agreed to strengthen existing mechanisms of cooperation such as implementation of the agreed framework of exchange of information through enhanced information exchange between Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region, Gurugram and Regional Coordination Operations Centre, Seychelles and Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre, Madagascar in the Indian Ocean Region and explore opportunities for coordinated surveillance whilst deployed to counter threats to maritime security in the region. India and France committed to mutually support each other in maritime security engagements and constructs.
As part of their joint commitment towards the conservation of biodiversity and the protection of oceans, India and France also agreed to preserve marine resources in the Indian Ocean Region, through the United Nations Ocean Conference. Both countries welcomed the progress made on biodiversity and blue economy during the last bilateral dialogue on blue economy and ocean governance, and agreed to pursue cooperation at the regional level, as members of the Indian Ocean Rim Association, it added.
UNI RN