External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday highlighted India’s vision for a secure, open and resilient maritime domain during a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Canada, where discussions centred on safeguarding global waterways essential to trade and economic stability.

In a social media post, Jaishankar said he participated in the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Outreach Session on Maritime Security and Prosperity. He outlined India’s maritime security approach through its MAHASAGAR outlook, Indo-Pacific cooperation and port-led development initiatives.

He stressed the need for “trusted and diversified maritime links”, pointing to India’s efforts to modernise shipping infrastructure and create more resilient trade corridors. Jaishankar also called for stronger coordination to protect critical maritime and undersea infrastructure.

Raising concerns over “maritime threats and economic crimes” such as piracy, smuggling and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, he said these challenges demand deeper international collaboration. He emphasised India’s role as a “first responder” in the maritime domain and its commitment to strengthening humanitarian assistance and disaster relief partnerships in the Indo-Pacific through joint exercises and logistics agreements.

Jaishankar underlined the importance of maritime trade to global prosperity and highlighted the central role of resilient ports and secure waterways in advancing shared economic objectives. He reaffirmed India’s commitment to a rules-based maritime order, saying, “UNCLOS must be upheld.” The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provides the legal framework governing marine and maritime activities worldwide.

Jaishankar is in Niagara to attend the G7 outreach session with partner nations. Earlier, he met Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan for discussions on bilateral ties, regional developments, connectivity and energy cooperation.