New Delhi [India], January 14 (ANI): India and Japan reaffirmed their dedication to strengthening maritime cooperation on Wednesday in the course of the twenty second High-Level Meeting (HLM) of the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) in New Delhi.
The assembly was led by Director General of the Indian Coast Guard, Paramesh Sivamani, and Admiral Yoshio Saguchi, Commandant of the Japan Coast Guard, who’s on a five-day official go to to India from January 13 to 17 on the head of a nine-member delegation.
During the talks, either side reviewed the present framework of cooperation and explored methods to boost operational engagement. Discussions targeted on key areas akin to Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR), Marine Pollution Response (MPR), Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE), and capability constructing. The two Coast Guards emphasised the necessity for sharing finest practices, bettering interoperability, and sustaining structured exchanges beneath the present Memorandum of Cooperation.
The delegations additionally mentioned collaboration in rising areas, together with the usage of superior expertise, info sharing, coaching programmes, and personnel exchanges. Both sides expressed satisfaction over the progress made for the reason that final High-Level Meeting and agreed on the significance of sustaining common engagements at numerous ranges.
With India at present holding the Presidency of the Coast Guard Global Summit (CGGS), the assembly additionally deliberated on enhanced cooperation in multilateral maritime boards. India is ready to host the fifth CGGS together with the International Coast Guard Fleet Review (ICGFR), and Japan assured its participation by means of the deployment of its ship and plane.
The discussions took notice of the India-Japan Joint Declaration issued in August 2025, which reaffirmed the shared dedication of the 2 international locations to a free, open, inclusive, and rules-based maritime order. Both sides underlined the essential function of the ICG and JCG in translating this strategic imaginative and prescient into sensible cooperation at sea.
As a part of the go to programme, the Japanese delegation will journey to Mumbai from January 16 to 17, the place they’ll undertake an industrial go to to Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited and have interaction in skilled interactions geared toward strengthening maritime industrial and operational linkages. A Japan Coast Guard National Strike Team can be visiting Mumbai to conduct a joint train with the ICG’s air pollution response workforce, specializing in Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) spill response.
The train is anticipated to boost preparedness, operational coordination, and mutual understanding in coping with advanced marine air pollution incidents.
The high-level assembly reaffirmed the robust and enduring partnership between the Indian and Japanese Coast Guards and highlighted their shared dedication to selling maritime security, safety, and environmental safety throughout the Indo-Pacific area. (ANI)