National Security Advisor Ajit Doval said that the Indian Ocean is a great asset to India due to which it is important to protect it and be vigilant.
In the changing geopolitical scenario, the Indian Ocean which has been an ocean of peace is gradually becoming competitive, he said adding that New Delhi sees the potential of having a clash of interest there.
“With the cardinal principle of security, our vulnerabilities are directly proportional to our assets. More we develop, more assets we create, more prosperous we get, greater would be vulnerability and greater would be needed for security,” he added.
Calling for seamless coordination among various agencies involved in the country’s maritime security apparatus, Doval said that in view of geopolitical developments, seas have become much more important.
In an address at the first meeting of the MultiAgency Maritime Security Group (MAMSG), Doval further said that India has a responsibility towards neighbours be it disaster management or security.
We recently had an example of countries coming together when the Colombo Security Conclave was held to tackle maritime threats in the Indian Ocean, he said.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from key central government ministries, agencies and security forces dealing with maritime affairs.
Maritime security coordinators from 13 coastal states and Union Territories also attended it.
In November last year, the Union Cabinet in a major decision to reform coordination of maritime security affairs at the apex level approved the creation of the post of NMSC, under the NSA, at the National Security Council Secretariat.This initiative was intended to ensure a seamless approach to India’s maritime security cutting across geographical and functional domains.
The MAMSG is envisaged to provide a standing and effective mechanism to ensure coordination of all aspects of maritime security including coastal and offshore security, as well as fill the technological and operational gaps in meeting present and future security challenges.
