Indian Coast Guard Extends MoU with Indonesia for 3 More Years
Click to start listening
Synopsis
On January 28, the Indian Coast Guard and its Indonesian counterpart renewed their MoU for three more years, focusing on maritime safety and security. The agreement reflects the commitment of both countries to enhance operational collaboration in various maritime domains.
Key Takeaways
- Renewal of MoU for 3 years.
- Focus on maritime safety and security.
- Operational collaboration in SAR, pollution response, and law enforcement.
- Importance of knowledge sharing and capacity building.
- Strengthened ties between India and Indonesia.
New Delhi, Jan 28 (NationPress) The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Indonesia Coast Guard (Badan Keamanan Laut Republik Indonesia-BAKAMLA) have renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding maritime safety and security cooperation for an additional three years, as confirmed by an official on Tuesday.
The MoU was formalized during the second high-level meeting held at the Coast Guard Headquarters in New Delhi on Monday, as indicated by a statement.
The meeting was chaired by ICG Director General Paramesh Sivamani and BAKAMLA Chief Vice-Admiral Irvansyah, who were accompanied by an eight-member delegation on an official visit to India from January 24-28.
Key discussions focused on strengthening operational collaboration in areas such as maritime search and rescue, pollution response, and maritime law enforcement.
Both parties stressed the importance of sharing best practices and maintaining professional exchanges to improve the safety and resilience of the Indo-Pacific region.
In line with the strong ties between the two countries, ICG Ship Shaunak is currently deployed to Jakarta from January 27-30 to enhance operational linkages with BAKAMLA.
The renewed agreement highlights the commitment of India and Indonesia to cultivating a secure and cooperative maritime environment, as stated.
To further its cooperation within the Southeast Asian region, the ICG conducted the second bilateral meeting with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in New Delhi on December 9, 2024 as part of the ongoing cooperation framework established under the MoU signed between the two Coast Guards.
The discussions were led by ICG Deputy Director General (Operations and Coastal Security) Inspector General Anupam Rai and Philippine Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Administration Rear Admiral Edgar L Ybanez.
Both sides explored ways to enhance joint SAR operations, ensuring rapid responses to maritime emergencies through shared resources and expertise. Discussions on cooperation in maritime law enforcement emphasized tackling transnational maritime crimes such as smuggling, trafficking, and illegal fishing.
The meeting also underscored the importance of collaborative efforts in marine pollution response, focusing on training and resource-sharing to effectively address environmental hazards.
Moreover, both Coast Guards highlighted the necessity of capacity building through knowledge exchange, joint exercises, and training programs to improve operational capabilities and interoperability.
