Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | International relations
Why in News?
Recently, India and Liberia co-launched the "Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers" (GoF on S4) on 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
- Co-Chairs - India and Liberia.
- Complementary Strengths
- Liberia - Holds the world's largest open ship registry by gross tonnage (flagging over 16% of global commercial vessels).
- India - Ranks as the 2nd-largest supplier of seafarers globally, contributing nearly 10% of the world's maritime workforce (~250,000 active Indian seafarers).
- Broad Coalition - Brings together 25 member nations spanning major flag registries (e.g., Marshall Islands, Panama), major labor-supplying nations (e.g., Philippines), and ship-owning economies.
Objectives
- UN "Group of Friends" Mechanism- Functions as an informal, flexible association of UN member states.
- It is designed to build diplomatic consensus, facilitate inter-governmental consultations, and direct multilateral advocacy toward a shared thematic priority.
- Core Mandate
- Elevating maritime human security and seafarer protection into primary UN and International Maritime Organization (IMO) diplomatic agendas.
- Coordinating responses to emerging high-seas threats—ranging from Houthi drone/missile strikes in the Red Sea and Bab-el-Mandeb to piracy surges in the Gulf of Guinea and Somali basin.
- Securing diplomatic protocols for the rapid evacuation, medical treatment, and repatriation of civilian crews caught in combat zones.
Significance
- Protection of National Workforce- Provides direct institutional backup for Indian maritime personnel operating in volatile international waters.
- Securing Critical Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) - Safeguards global maritime supply chains, which carry over 80% of global trade by volume.
- Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 - Supports India's policy target to expand its share of the global seafaring workforce to 20% by 2047.
Reference
India Today | India, Liberia launch UN shipping safety group
