Meeting in Port-Louis, Mauritius, the Western Indian Ocean States and the European Union reaffirmed their willingness to strengthen their cooperation in the face of maritime safety challenges. With the resolution to better combat illicit trafficking, illegal fishing, piracy and environmental threats in a strategic region.
The countries of the Western Indian Ocean and the European Union want to intensify their cooperation on maritime safety. Meeting last week in Port-Louis, Mauritius, the representatives of the States of the region made a common observation: in the face of the multiplication of traffic and the strategic challenges of this maritime area, a coordinated response has become essential.
The exchanges focused in particular on strengthening the sharing of information between States, the surveillance of maritime spaces and the development of joint actions against illegal fishing, drug, arms or human trafficking, as well as acts of piracy. The participants also mentioned environmental risks, including pollution at sea, which require better regional coordination.
Blue economy
The Indian Ocean is one of the main crossroads of world trade. Thousands of ships transit there every year, making this area a strategic area but also particularly exposed to transnational criminal activities.
For the island states of the region, including Reunion Island, maritime safety goes beyond defense issues only. It also concerns the protection of fisheries resources, the preservation of marine biodiversity, the security of trade and, more broadly, the development of the blue economy.
Source: Zinfos974
