Shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for the removal of barriers from maritime trade at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked India for the meeting on the agenda and called for a united effort to achieve success in the maritime domain.

“I thank our Indian friends for such a useful initiative in holding this meeting, and I would like to wish India to continue to successfully fulfil the functions of the President of the United Nations Security Council this month,” Putin said.

The Russian President added that Moscow is doing a lot to preserve and strengthen the international legal order in maritime security and is ready to share its experience in anti-terrorist operations, crime prevention, detection & neutralisation of bandit formations, including in maritime areas.

“Russia stands for strict observance of key norms and principles of international law enshrined in UN Charter, such as respect for sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, resolution of disputes through dialogue… To achieve real success in this area (maritime security), it’s necessary to unite efforts of all interested states, as well as international organisations, regional structures – with the central coordinating role of UN & Security Council,” Putin further said.

PM calls for cooperation to counter threats posed by non-state actors

Earlier, PM Modi chaired a debate on maritime security and stressed that the prosperity of world players depended on an active flow of maritime trade. “We should remove barriers from legitimate maritime trade. The prosperity of all of us is dependent on the active flow of maritime trade. Any hindrance to it can threaten the entire global economy,” PM Modi said in his virtual address at the UNSC. PM Also called for united efforts to counter the threat posed by non-state actors.

The presidential statement moved by India was adopted by the UNSC. “The Security Council notes with concern the ongoing threats to maritime safety and security posed by piracy, armed robbery at sea, terrorists’ travel and use of the sea to conduct crimes and acts against shipping, offshore installations, critical infrastructure, and other maritime interests,” the statement read