The changing geopolitical scenario in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) had led to “international rivalries, competition and clash of interests” and it was important for India to protect its interests in this area, said National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval on Wednesday, while calling for seamless coordination among all stakeholders involved in the maritime domain. He stated that the maritime domain was a multilateral construct and a nation “cannot unilaterally decide” in the maritime domain.
He was addressing the first meeting of the Multi-Agency Maritime Security Group (MAMSG) chaired by the newly appointed National Maritime Security Coordinator (NMSC) Vice-Admiral Ashok Kumar (Retd.) which for the first time brought together maritime security coordinators from all 13 coastal States and Union Territories (UTs) as well as other stakeholders.
“In the national security discourse, maritime security has its own specific emphasis,” Mr. Doval said. Stating that land borders and maritime borders were very different, he said conventional land border got a place of prominence. And that had been the primary focus. Not only because all wars were fought on the land borders. Land border and maritime border were very different.
