Panaji: The upcoming Goa Maritime Conclave, with the participation of the navies of 14 Indian Ocean countries, is taking place amidst challenges such as illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, narcotics trafficking, and other illicit activities directly impacting regional stability, a senior naval official said.
Rear Admiral A D Nair, Commandant, Naval War College, Goa, told reporters in Panaji on Wednesday that the Goa Maritime Conclave will be held in Goa on February 21, bringing together Chiefs of Navy and senior representatives from 14 Indian Ocean countries under the theme “Common Maritime Security Challenges in the Indian Ocean Region – Progressing Lines of Effort to Mitigate Dynamic Threats.”
The theme of GMC-26 is highly relevant to the current maritime security environment. Challenges such as illegal, unreported, unregulated fishing, narcotics trafficking, and other illicit activities directly impact economic security, environmental sustainability, and regional stability, Nair said.
He said that these threats often exploit jurisdictional gaps and require a coordinated response rather than unilateral actions.
For the Indian Ocean Region, characterised by dense maritime traffic and diverse stakeholders, the need for shared awareness and cooperative mechanisms has never been greater, he said.
The countries including Bangladesh, Indonesia, Comoros, Malaysia, Kenya, Singapore, Madagascar, Thailand, Myanmar, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania will be attending the event.
Responding to a question, Nair said that the primary outcome one foresees from GMC-26 is enhanced mutual understanding among participating nations regarding shared maritime challenges.
For India, this reinforces its role as a preferred maritime security partner committed to regional stability. For the broader Indian Ocean Region, the conclave encourages information sharing, sharing of best practices, and trust-building, he said.
