On 29 October 2026, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, named Artificial Intelligence (AI) and maritime security as priorities for India’s candidature for a non-permanent UN Security Council seat in 2028–29. He spoke during a Council debate on emerging technologies and maritime security.
Technology and maritime cooperation
Parvathaneni said technology should strengthen human security and make shared maritime commons safer. AI analysis of satellite imagery, radar and vessel-tracking data can improve maritime domain awareness, detect suspicious activity and support search-and-rescue operations. He also called for developing countries to have access to technology, training and institutional capabilities.
He cited cyber risks to ports, vessels, communication networks and undersea infrastructure, and called for safeguards, human oversight and clear accountability for autonomous systems. India condemned attacks on commercial vessels and stressed freedom of navigation, lawful maritime commerce and seafarer safety. It cited the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the work of the International Maritime Organization as parts of the international framework.
The Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region, hosted by the Indian Navy in Gurugram, Haryana, was presented as an example of information-sharing. Launched in December 2018, it supports maritime security and safety in the Indian Ocean. India’s cooperation approach is guided by SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region).
UNSC candidature
The election for the Asia-Pacific Group’s single seat is scheduled for June 2027, with India and Tajikistan competing. In September 2026, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis co-chaired a UN event on AI and international peace and security, with emphasis on maritime security.
Important Facts for Exams
- IFC-IOR: The IFC-IOR was envisaged as a nodal centre of excellence for collaborative maritime safety and security across a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indian Ocean Region.
- IFC-IOR: At its operational core, the IFC-IOR fuses, analyses and disseminates information on White Shipping in the Indian Ocean to support comprehensive maritime domain awareness.
- IFC-IOR: The IFC-IOR was conceived to meet a regional collaboration need, promoting maritime safety and security in light of the Indian Ocean’s importance to world trade and security.
