Liberian Military Delegation Visits Indian Naval Institutions to Enhance Maritime Cooperation
A Liberian military delegation toured Indian naval training facilities to strengthen maritime cooperation and explore training opportunities.
Kochi, November 14 (Daily Kiran) : A three-member training delegation from the Armed Forces of Liberia visited Indian naval training institutions in Kochi from November 9 to 13. The visit aimed to enhance maritime cooperation between India and Liberia.
Led by Chief of Training Lieutenant Colonel Eden T. Jelley, the delegation engaged with trainers and inspected modern training facilities and simulators. The discussions focused on expanding training opportunities and strengthening the capacity-building partnership between the two nations.
On October 9, the Ministry of External Affairs announced the formation of the “Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers” (GOF S4) under the leadership of India and Liberia. This initiative aims to bring global attention to the safety of seafarers and commercial vessels, while also promoting international cooperation to protect ships and their crews from attacks.
India and Liberia launched the GOF S4 on September 25, committing to better coordination to prevent such attacks and safeguard the rights of seafarers.
During a regular press briefing in New Delhi, Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized the group’s goal of uniting countries and stakeholders involved in commercial shipping and the maritime industry. This includes nations that are major providers of maritime services or have a significant number of seafarers.
Jaiswal stated, “The idea is to bring all relevant countries and parties together to elevate the safety of seafarers and commercial shipping as a key topic of global discourse, ensuring that commercial vessels remain unaffected and that seafarers stay safe through international cooperation and joint efforts.”
He also noted that the group’s inaugural meeting took place in New York, co-chaired by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Liberia’s Foreign Minister Sarah Beysolow Nyanti, with participation from 25 countries.
This visit is seen as a significant step in enhancing maritime and defense cooperation between India and Liberia, with hopes for strengthened partnerships in training, capacity building, and maritime security.
