New Delhi, December 9 (IANS). An important bilateral meeting between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Philippines Coast Guard (PCG) took place in New Delhi on Monday. The coast guard forces of both the countries discussed cooperation in maritime law enforcement during the talks. It focused on combating smuggling, human trafficking and illegal fishing and international maritime crimes. Important facts like Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) were discussed.
Apart from this, the focus was on enhancing cooperation in key areas such as maritime law enforcement, action on marine pollution and capacity building. The meeting also highlighted the importance of joint efforts in combating marine pollution. It focused on training and resource-sharing to effectively deal with environmental threats.
Further, both Coast Guards underlined the importance of capability enhancement through knowledge exchange, joint exercises and training programs to enhance operational capabilities and interoperability. This second bilateral meeting with the Philippine Coast Guard was held at the ICG Headquarters in New Delhi on 9 December as part of the established cooperation mechanism.
Inspector General Anupam Rai, Deputy Director General (Operations and Coastal Security), ICG, chaired the meeting along with Rear Admiral Edgar L. Ybanez, Deputy Commandant for Administration, PCG. Both sides discussed ways to enhance joint SAR operational activities to respond to emergencies at sea through shared resources and expertise.
The high-level four-member PCG delegation, during its official visit from December 8-12, will also meet representatives of the Department of Defense Production to view Indian indigenous shipbuilding capabilities under the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.
The MoU signed between the two countries in August 2023 outlines the shared vision of ICG and PCG in ensuring a safe and pollution-free marine environment in the Indo-Pacific region. This bilateral meeting will further strengthen mutual relations between the two coast guards, which will contribute to regional stability and enhance cooperation in dealing with maritime challenges.
–IANS
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