Foreign Secretary addresses the 5th Plenary Session on “Maritime Security at an Inflection Point”; three-day regional security summit brings together ministers and senior dignitaries from across the world.

New Delhi : Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri shared India’s perspective on emerging maritime security challenges at the 5th Plenary Session, titled “Maritime Security at an Inflection Point,” during the 22nd IISS Manama Dialogue Regional Security Summit in Bahrain.

The three-day Dialogue witnessed the participation of ministers and senior dignitaries from across the globe, providing an important platform for discussions on regional and international security concerns, strategic developments and cooperation.

During his address, Shri Misri emphasised that maritime security is a shared international responsibility and called for prioritising diplomacy over conflict and cooperation over confrontation. He underlined the need to safeguard commercial shipping, protect seafarers and uphold international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Highlighting the growing significance of secure sea routes, India’s perspective also reflects concerns over disruptions in strategically important waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Any instability in these vital maritime corridors can disrupt global trade and energy supplies, increase transportation and insurance costs, and place additional economic pressure on developing countries.

Maritime security also extends beyond protecting ships and shipping lanes. It involves addressing piracy, attacks on commercial vessels, trafficking and other transnational threats, while strengthening maritime domain awareness, information-sharing, surveillance and coordination among countries.

For India, with its extensive coastline and dependence on the Indian Ocean for trade and energy security, safe and open sea lanes are essential to economic growth and regional stability. India has consistently advocated an inclusive approach based on international cooperation, respect for international law and peaceful resolution of disputes.

The Manama Dialogue provided an important opportunity for participating countries to exchange views on evolving maritime threats and explore collective approaches to ensuring freedom of navigation, protecting seafarers and maintaining the security of international shipping routes.

The central message of India’s approach is clear: the oceans must remain spaces of cooperation, connectivity and shared prosperity—not arenas of conflict and confrontation.

The fifth plenary session was chaired by IISS Director-General and Chief Executive Dr Bastian Giegerich. Other speakers included Vice Admiral Fahd bin Abdullah Al Ghufaili of Saudi Arabia, Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Defence Zaqy Mohamad and Rear Admiral Yannick Bossu, Joint Commander of French Forces in the Indian Ocean.