India and EU explore ways to sustain a secure maritime environment in Brussels

During the 3rd Maritime Security Dialogue held in Brussels on Thursday, India and the European Union discussed ways to maintain a secure maritime environment that promotes inclusive growth and global well-being.

According to a statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), both sides reviewed their current cooperation initiatives in the maritime domain and discussed ways to strengthen international and regional mechanisms to ensure comprehensive maritime security.

The Indian delegation was led by Joint Secretary for Disarmament and International Security Affairs, MEA, Muanpuii Saiawi and the EU delegation was led by Director for Security and Defence Policy, European External Action Service Ambassador Joanneke Balfoort.

India and the EU discussed ways to enhance cooperation in countering illicit maritime activities, maritime law enforcement, and capability building, according to an official statement.
The two sides also discussed cooperation in the enhancement of maritime domain awareness (MDA) and looked forward to a forthcoming India-EU maritime engagement.

During the seventh India-EU Cyber Dialogue in Brussels, it was agreed to hold the next round of the dialogue on a mutually convenient date. India and the EU also discussed cyber cooperation in multilateral forums and appreciated the Cyber Dialogue mechanism.

In the meeting, both parties talked about collaborating to enhance their capabilities in cyberspace and to prevent the illicit use of Information and Communication technology. The Indian delegation was headed by Muanpuii Saiawi, who is the Joint Secretary of the Cyber Diplomacy Division in the Ministry of External Affairs.

The India-EU Strategic Partnership has a Cyber Dialogue mechanism which allows both parties to discuss various aspects of cyberspace. Recently, they expressed appreciation for this platform and exchanged their views on cyber policies, strategies, and areas of mutual interest. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated this in a press release.