India unveils its MAHASAGAR vision at the UN Security Council, boosting global maritime security with AI tools, naval cooperation, and ocean protection.
New York / New Delhi, August 12, 2025 – India has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding a free, open, and rules-based maritime order, unveiling expanded maritime cooperation initiatives under its MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision at a high-level United Nations Security Council (UNSC) debate on maritime security chaired by Panama.
Representing India at the debate, Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs, outlined a five-pillar approach to maritime security rooted in the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The MAHASAGAR framework, an evolution of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decade-old SAGAR doctrine, now extends India’s strategic maritime outreach beyond the Indian Ocean to include broader cooperation with the Global South.
“India stands as a responsible maritime power, ready to contribute to collective security efforts globally,” Lal affirmed, stressing the urgency for joint action in the face of expanding maritime threats.
MAHASAGAR: New Technology-Driven Maritime Security Steps
During the UNSC session, Lal announced key new initiatives:
- e-Samudra – An AI-powered real-time maritime monitoring platform to enhance surveillance, governance, and safety at sea.
- Samudra Prachet – An indigenously designed pollution control vessel aimed at strengthening marine environmental protection.
- Strengthening of the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), already hosting officers from 12 partner nations to share intelligence and improve maritime domain awareness.
- Deployment of the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar with multinational crews from nine partner nations as an operational example of collaborative security missions.
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Regional & Multilateral Engagements
India emphasized its active participation in regional and international security arrangements such as the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), and joint exercises with ASEAN nations, African partners, and global allies including the United States, European Union, and Japan.
Recent coordinated naval patrols with the EU in the Gulf of Guinea and the Malabar Exercise involving Quad partners underline India’s role as a “preferred security partner” in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
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Addressing New-Age Maritime Threats
The UNSC debate also reflected on a shifting maritime security landscape where cyberattacks on ports, sanctions evasion through illegal shipping networks, and geopolitical tensions in major trade routes like the Red Sea and Southeast Asia are reshaping global maritime governance.
Lal stressed that India’s strategy targets both traditional and non-traditional threats, with an emphasis on:
- Securing free navigation for legitimate trade.
- Peaceful dispute resolution under UNCLOS.
- Joint disaster response and countering non-traditional threats.
- Marine environment conservation.
- Promoting responsible maritime connectivity.
Strategic Timing
The session took place under Panama’s August 2025 UNSC presidency, with President José Raul Mulino presiding and contributions from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), INTERPOL, and the Panama Canal Authority. The discussions highlighted the urgent need to protect global shipping lanes amid increased piracy, environmental risks, and geopolitical tensions threatening the stability of critical waterways.
The Interview Times will continue tracking developments on the MAHASAGAR initiative as India steps up its leadership role in cooperative, technology-driven, and sustainable ocean governance.