India Prioritises AI and Maritime Security in Bid for UN Security Council Seat 2028–29

India has identified artificial intelligence and maritime security as key priorities for its 2028–29 UN Security Council candidature, emphasising international cooperation and safer maritime routes.

India Highlights AI and Maritime Security Priorities for UN Security Council Bid

India has placed artificial intelligence (AI) and maritime security at the centre of its campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028–2029 term.

India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, P Harish, outlined these priorities during an open debate on emerging technologies and maritime security. He emphasised that international cooperation is essential to address new threats arising from technological developments and protect global maritime routes.

India is contesting the election scheduled for next year for a two-year non-permanent membership beginning in 2028.

India Calls for Responsible Use of AI in Maritime Security

Speaking during the UNSC debate, P Harish said India wants emerging technologies to contribute to human security, economic opportunities and international stability.

He stressed that technological progress should benefit people rather than create new inequalities or increase security threats.

According to Harish, artificial intelligence can significantly improve maritime surveillance and help authorities identify suspicious activities at sea.

AI-powered systems can analyse satellite images, radar information and vessel-tracking data to strengthen maritime domain awareness. These capabilities can help countries monitor shipping movements, identify potential threats and respond more effectively to security challenges.

India has also offered to share its experience and technological capabilities with international partners to improve regional maritime cooperation.

India Highlights SAGAR Vision and IFC-IOR Initiative

Harish highlighted India's SAGAR vision, which stands for Security and Growth for All in the Region, as an important foundation for its maritime security initiatives.

He also referred to the Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), established in 2018 and hosted by the Indian Navy near New Delhi.

The centre facilitates information-sharing and cooperation among maritime stakeholders to strengthen security across the Indian Ocean Region.

According to Harish, the IFC-IOR has 12 international partners and demonstrates how countries can work together to monitor maritime activities and address emerging threats.

India believes that greater coordination, information exchange and technological cooperation can make international shipping routes safer.

India Condemns Attacks on Commercial Shipping

During the debate, India strongly condemned attacks targeting commercial vessels and reiterated the importance of freedom of navigation and uninterrupted lawful maritime trade.

Harish warned that attacks on commercial shipping threaten the lives of seafarers, disrupt international supply chains and create economic uncertainty.

He particularly highlighted the impact on developing countries, which can face higher transportation expenses and increased trade costs because of disruptions to maritime routes.

His remarks came amid reports from Iran's Navy that three oil tankers had struck sea mines and caught fire in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

The incident once again highlighted the security challenges facing one of the world's most important maritime energy transportation routes.

UN Officials Warn About Emerging Maritime Technology Threats

The UNSC debate also highlighted concerns about the possible misuse of emerging technologies by non-state actors, including terrorist organisations.

Earle Courtenay Rattray, the UN Secretary-General's Chef de Cabinet, warned that such groups could exploit technological developments to create new security challenges.

He called for stronger international cooperation to prevent the misuse of emerging technologies and improve the global response to maritime threats.

The discussion underlined the need for countries to develop coordinated strategies as technological advancements increasingly influence maritime operations and security arrangements.

Undersea Internet Cables Face Growing Security Risks

Indian-American journalist and author Fareed Zakaria, who briefed the Security Council, drew attention to the vulnerability of undersea communication infrastructure.

He noted that approximately 95% of the world's digital communications travel through submarine cables, making these networks critical to global connectivity.

However, their location beneath the oceans also exposes them to potential damage, sabotage and deliberate attacks.

Zakaria explained that artificial intelligence and real-time data processing could help authorities identify suspicious activities, detect signal interference and respond to attempts to damage undersea cables.

He argued that the technology required to strengthen monitoring systems is already available, but governments need the political commitment to implement these solutions.

Iran's Warning Raises Concerns Over Undersea Cable Security

Concerns about submarine cable security have also increased following remarks by Iranian military officials.

Last week, Brigadier General Yadollah Javani, a senior commander in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warned that Iran could target undersea internet cables in the Strait of Hormuz if its infrastructure came under attack.

Such threats highlight the growing connection between maritime security and digital infrastructure.

Damage to submarine communication cables could disrupt internet connectivity, international financial transactions and communication networks across multiple countries.

The issue has strengthened calls for greater international coordination to protect critical underwater infrastructure.

Greece Hosts UNSC Debate on Emerging Technologies

The open debate on emerging technologies and maritime security was convened by Greece during its presidency of the UN Security Council.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis chaired the meeting, which examined how technological developments are changing maritime security and influencing international peace.

The discussion also built on a high-level meeting held the previous month, co-chaired by India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Greece's Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis.

The meeting provided an opportunity for countries to discuss the relationship between artificial intelligence, maritime surveillance and international security cooperation.

Conclusion

India's focus on AI and maritime security reflects its growing emphasis on international cooperation, technological innovation and protecting critical global infrastructure. As threats to commercial shipping and undersea communication networks increase, India's proposed priorities for its 2028–2029 UNSC candidature highlight the importance of collective action to maintain maritime stability and international security.