Understanding Maritime Security Challenges in the Global South

Evolution of Maritime Challenges

• Maritime security faces new dimensions in hard security, such as asymmetrical tactics and grey-zone warfare. Land attack missiles and combat drones reshape security landscapes, presenting unconventional threats.

Shift in Demand for Maritime Security

• Growing demand arises from states dealing with illegal fishing, natural disasters, and climate change. Addressing these demands requires a broader approach beyond military means.

India’s Developmental Approach

• India’s Maritime Vision 2030 emphasizes economic growth and livelihood generation through port, shipping, and inland waterway development. The Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative focuses on pillars like maritime ecology and disaster risk reduction.

New Threats in Maritime Domain

• Recent developments, like Ukraine’s tactics and China’s maritime militias, signify improvised strategies. Emerging threats include grey-zone warfare and unconventional methods.

Demand for Maritime Security

• The majority of demand stems from unconventional threats like illegal fishing and climate change. Addressing these requires commitment to resources and specialized personnel.

Global South’s Perspective

• Developing nations view powerful nations’ competition as detrimental to their interests. Challenges involve interconnected objectives in national, environmental, economic, and human security.

Challenges in Global South

• Rising sea levels and climate change disproportionately impact less developed states, leading to vulnerability. Unequal law-enforcement capabilities hinder joint efforts against maritime threats.

Creative Models for Maritime Security

• Maritime security exceeds military actions, focusing on prosperity and societal aspirations. India’s Maritime Vision 2030 emphasizes economic growth through port development.

Fight Against Illegal Fishing

• Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing pose significant challenges, especially in Asia and Africa. Policies encouraging destructive methods contribute to the problem.

India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative

• Encompassing seven pillars, this initiative advocates collective solutions for shared problems, garnering support from major Indo-Pacific states.

Challenges in Achieving Consensus

• Implementing collaborative strategies faces hurdles in improving interoperability and intelligence sharing. Balancing sovereignty remains a priority, hindering consensus.

Key Challenges

• Conventional military approaches fall short in tackling unconventional threats like illegal fishing and climate change. Coordination challenges among less developed states and reluctance hinder collective action.

Way Forward

• Improved collaboration, intelligence sharing, and agreement on regional rules-based orders are imperative. Prioritizing collective action over sovereignty is crucial for effective maritime solutions aligned with sustainable development goals.