Artificial Intelligence and Maritime Security are Key Priorities in India's UN Security Council Candidacy

India has identified Artificial Intelligence (AI) and maritime security as key priorities during its candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2028-29 term. India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, stated on Thursday that technology should make common maritime spaces more secure, not more contested.

Addressing a high-level open debate in the Security Council on the theme 'Emerging Technology and Maritime Security: Implications for Peace and Security', Ambassador Harish said that the oceans are the arteries of global trade, connecting economies, sustaining livelihoods, and ensuring food and energy security. Therefore, the safety and security of the oceans are indispensable for international peace and prosperity.

Ambassador Harish further stated that emerging technology is fundamentally transforming the maritime domain. Artificial Intelligence, autonomous systems, satellite-based surveillance, and advanced cyber capabilities provide unprecedented opportunities to strengthen maritime security. However, their misuse also presents new challenges that require collective attention.

He added that India's objective is clear: technology should strengthen human security, not undermine it; it should expand opportunity, not inequality; and it should make our common maritime spaces more secure, not more contested. India is ready to work with all partners towards this objective.

India emphasized that technological advancements should not deepen existing inequalities. Developing countries need access to technology, training, and institutional capacities to secure their maritime infrastructure and participate meaningfully in shaping technological governance.

New Delhi has announced its candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the 2028-29 term. The election for this will be held in June next year, where India and Tajikistan will compete for the sole seat in the Asia-Pacific Group category.

Emphasizing the need to protect the freedom of navigation and maritime trade, Ambassador Harish said that recent attacks on commercial shipping have shown that the consequences of disruptions at critical maritime choke points can extend far beyond their immediate geographical boundaries. These attacks pose risks to seafarers, disrupt supply chains, and disproportionately affect developing countries through higher costs and economic uncertainty. India strongly condemned the attacks on commercial vessels.

India reiterated the importance of freedom of navigation, unimpeded lawful maritime commerce, and the safety of seafarers in accordance with international law. Highlighting the need to use technology to strengthen maritime security, Ambassador Harish stated that AI-enabled analysis of satellite imagery, radar, and vessel-tracking data can improve maritime domain awareness, detect suspicious activities, and assist in search and rescue operations.

In this context, the Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region near New Delhi demonstrates the value of cooperation and information sharing in strengthening maritime security. India's approach is guided by the vision of SAGAR — 'Security and Growth for All in the Region' — and a comprehensive commitment to inclusive maritime cooperation.

Due to increasing digitalization and automation, ports, ships, communication networks, and subsea infrastructure can become vulnerable to cyber threats, which is why India called on the international community to address emerging technological vulnerabilities. The proliferation of autonomous systems raises complex questions of accountability and unintended escalation. Therefore, we must ensure appropriate safeguards, meaningful human oversight, and clear accountability in the use of emerging technology.

India emphasized that the UN Charter and international law, including the law of the sea as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), provide the essential framework for state conduct. India also called for strengthening international cooperation by respecting institutional mandates, stating that the work of the International Maritime Organization and other relevant bodies should be strengthened, not duplicated. The Security Council should focus on technological advancements that have demonstrated implications for international peace and security.

This debate was held under Greece's presidency of the Security Council for the month of October. Earlier in September, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar co-chaired an event on the theme 'AI, with a focus on maritime security in the context of international peace and security' with Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis during the UN General Assembly week. Jaishankar emphasized the need to harness the potential of AI, forecast its consequences, and mitigate its risks. He stated that in the maritime domain, AI can enhance maritime domain awareness, search and rescue, disaster response, identification of suspicious activity, and the resilience of ports and critical infrastructure.