India-Australia discussed ways to maintain a safe maritime environment

International. The India-Australia Sixth Maritime Security Dialogue was held in Canberra, Australia on Tuesday. During this, both sides discussed ways to maintain a safe maritime environment conducive to inclusive development and global welfare.

The Indian delegation was led by Muanpui Sayavi, Joint Secretary, Disarmament and International Security Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while the Australian delegation was led by Sarah Story, First Assistant Secretary, South Asia and Central Asia Division in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Bernard Philip, First Assistant Secretary, International Policy in the Department of Defense.

The Ministry of External Affairs said in an official statement that in the talks, the two sides exchanged views on various topics of mutual interest, including maritime security environment in the Indo-Pacific region, maritime domain awareness, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) coordination, regional and multilateral engagement and sustainable use of marine resources. They also discussed the way forward for cooperation in the marine ecology pillar of the Indo-Pacific Ocean Initiative (IPOI).

The talks also covered cooperation in search and rescue (SAR), pollution response, blue economy and port state control. India and Australia discussed ways and means to further strengthen their bilateral cooperation in these areas.

The two sides agreed to hold the next round of talks at a mutually convenient date in New Delhi. The India-Australia Maritime Security Dialogue helps shape maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific to support an open, inclusive, resilient, prosperous and rules-based maritime order.