A Strategic Vision for the Maritime Commons

As nations navigate an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape, India has officially placed artificial intelligence (AI) and maritime security at the core of its campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2028–2029 term. Addressing a high-level debate at the UN, India's Permanent Representative, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, stressed that emerging technologies must be harnessed to strengthen human security rather than deepen global inequalities.

With upcoming elections slated for June next year—where India and Tajikistan will vie for the sole Asia-Pacific Group seat—New Delhi is framing its candidacy around the sustainable and secure management of shared global trade routes.

Safeguarding Global Supply Chains

Emphasizing the vulnerability of critical maritime chokepoints, the Indian envoy drew attention to recent escalations threatening commercial shipping. Disruptions in vital global corridors, he noted, carry far-reaching consequences that transcend immediate regional geography, endangering seafarers, inflating supply chain costs, and disproportionately impacting developing nations.

Recent incidents in strategic waters, including reports of commercial vessels encountering severe maritime hazards in the Strait of Hormuz, have underscored the urgent need for robust, collective defense frameworks and real-time threat detection.

Harnessing AI for Domain Awareness

To counter modern maritime threats, India advocated for the integration of advanced technologies like AI-enabled satellite imagery analysis, radar tracking, and vessel monitoring systems. These tools significantly enhance maritime domain awareness, allowing authorities to proactively detect suspicious activities and secure open sea-lanes.

Reiterating its commitment to regional stability through the framework of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), India pointed to its Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) near New Delhi as a proven model of multinational intelligence sharing and operational cooperation.

Bridging the Technological Divide

A central pillar of India's UNSC platform is ensuring that technological advancements do not inadvertently widen the gap between advanced economies and the Global South. Parvathaneni stressed that developing nations must be granted equitable access to technology, institutional training, and technical capabilities to effectively secure their maritime infrastructure and participate meaningfully in international technological governance.