New Delhi, October 9 (Daily Kiran) : India and Liberia have taken a firm stand against recent attacks on shipping in the Gulf and Black Sea regions. The two nations, leading the Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers (GOF S4), aim to elevate the safety of seafarers and commercial shipping to the forefront of global discussions. This initiative was announced by the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday.
During a session at the United Nations on Thursday, the permanent missions of India and Liberia condemned the assaults on vessels and their crews. The GOF S4 was launched on September 25, with both countries committed to preventing the recurrence of such attacks and enhancing coordination to protect the rights of seafarers.
At a regular press briefing in New Delhi, Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized that the group’s mission is to unite nations and stakeholders involved in commercial shipping and maritime industries. He noted the importance of including countries that provide maritime services or host large seafarer communities.
“The goal is to bring everyone together to place the issues of our seafarers’ safety and commercial shipping security at the center of global discourse,” Jaiswal stated. He added that strengthening international cooperation and initiatives is essential to ensure that commercial shipping is not disrupted and that seafarers remain safe.
The group’s inaugural meeting recently took place in New York, co-chaired by India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Liberia’s Foreign Minister Sarah Beysolow Nyanti, with participation from 25 nations.
In their joint statement, India and Liberia expressed deep concern over the unacceptable attacks on commercial vessels and seafarers in the Gulf and Black Sea regions. They called for an immediate halt to actions that disrupt maritime trade and endanger innocent lives.
The statement also extended heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished for the swift recovery of the injured.
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