“If all countries accept the responsibility to cut emissions by investing in green economy, share technology and capital with the needy countries and so on, there is no reason why humanity cannot overcome this problem as well,” said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh while addressing the Goa Maritime Conclave 2023 (GMC) on October 30.
During the address, he called on countries for their role in climate change. He said, “The Prisoner’s dilemma presents the temptation for individual countries to “free-ride” or avoid climate responsibilities, while other countries bear the pain to reduce their emissions. But such narrow thinking and selfish actions are infectious in nature, and a pandemic of climate irresponsibility may threaten the very existence of our societies. Like the pandemic we just overcame, there is also a vaccine available. It is the vaccine of collaboration, climate responsibility and climate justice.”
The Defence Minister stressed the importance of mutual cooperation for security. He said, “Our common security and prosperity cannot be preserved without all of us committing to cooperatively adhere to the legitimate maritime rules of engagement. Fair and just rules of engagement are crucial for fostering such collaboration and ensuring that no single country dominates others in a hegemonic manner.”
The theme for this year’s edition of GMC, “Maritime Security in the Indian Ocean Region: Converting Common Maritime Priorities into Collaborative Mitigating Frameworks”, has been derived keeping in mind the necessity of ‘synergising and collaborating efforts’ in the maritime domain towards achieving maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
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The Defence Minister said that the Goa Maritime Conclave is a step in the direction of cooperation, collaboration, discussion, and dialogue. He said, “The sea has shaped our history since time immemorial. It continues to influence our lives today, and will shape our shared destiny in the future. I have no hesitation in saying that if we cooperate and collaborate, the future of our region holds immense promise. The Goa Maritime Conclave is a step in that direction of cooperation, collaboration, discussion, and dialogue.”
At the GMC-23, Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff of Indian Navy is hosting Chiefs of Navies/ Heads of Maritime Forces/ Senior Representatives from 12 Indian Ocean littorals, including Bangladesh, Comoros, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The 4th edition of Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC) – 2023 is being held from October 29 to 31, 2023 by the Indian Navy under the aegis of Naval War College, Goa.
As part of the conclave, visiting dignitaries are getting to witness India’s Indigenous shipbuilding industry at the “Make in India Exhibition” and the indigenous warships as also capabilities of the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV).