On Sunday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke at the 8th Indian Ocean Conference in Muscat. He explained how the Indian Ocean is very important for everyone around the world. Jaishankar said that the countries in this ocean should help each other and work together to improve development, connections, and security.
He described the Indian Ocean as a “global lifeline,” meaning it plays a crucial role in trade and travel. He mentioned that while the countries in the Indian Ocean region are different in many ways – like history, geography, and culture – they all care about the future of the ocean.
Jaishankar noted that right now, the world is facing a lot of changes and challenges. In the Middle East and West Asia, there are serious conflicts that could get worse. This situation affects global shipping, which can hurt economies, including those of Indian Ocean countries. At the other end, the Indo-Pacific region is also facing tensions.
He pointed out that many countries in the Indian Ocean are having trouble with their economies, dealing with debts, and trying to meet their Sustainable Development Goals. Some countries may have taken too many loans for projects that are not realistic.
There’s also a need to improve transportation and connections in the region that have been disrupted for many years. Jaishankar emphasized that any plans to work together should be open and involve everyone, rather than one country deciding on its own.
Another issue is managing the Exclusive Economic Zones for fishing and dealing with illegal activities like trafficking and terrorism. All these challenges have a strong impact on the sea.
He said India’s role is important in these challenges, as it is working hard to strengthen its capabilities, forming new partnerships, helping neighbors, and coming forward in difficult times.
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