India and Liberia have announced the formation of a “Group of Friends” focused on enhancing the safety and security of shipping and seafarers. This maritime initiative comes in response to increasing threats to commercial shipping, particularly in light of tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb. The initiative was introduced during a ministerial meeting on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly.
As a significant contributor of seafarers, India aims to collaborate with Liberia, which boasts the largest shipping registry, to address these pressing issues. Recent incidents of attacks on seafarers and vessels have raised alarms, with such occurrences becoming distressingly common. The meeting underscored the need for collective action to combat these threats, as attacks on civilian shipping from the Black Sea to the Gulf have escalated.
The group seeks to unite key stakeholders, including major ship-owning nations and those with substantial seafarer populations. Highlighting recent attacks, such as the assault on the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged bulk carrier MV Cape Dao and the Panama-flagged oil tanker El Gaia, the discussions emphasized the urgent need for international cooperation to deter such violence and protect maritime commerce.
