Maritime security cooperation: the next port of call

Although the Indian navy is developing and expanding as it experiences maritime insecurity close to home, the navies of EU-member states are reducing their naval assets for budgetary reasons, despite the rise in maritime security challenges worldwide.

India and European countries meet in the Western Indian Ocean on a regular basis through EU and NATO missions. Shared security concerns have mainly revolved around securing global trade against Somali piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the broader Indian Ocean. Although cooperation in counter-piracy was pinpointed at the EU-India Summit in Delhi in 2012 as one of the three areas in which the EU and India can intensify cooperation – next to terrorism and cyber security – this potential has largely remained unfulfilled.

Individual EU member states with large interests in maritime affairs play a leading role in coming up with concrete ideas for cooperation and collaboration. The Netherlands sees India as a promising country to engage with in the maritime industry sector. The multiannual maritime project ‘Focus on India’ has sought to increase the chances for Dutch companies to enter the Indian market. Maritime knowledge exchange has added value to bilateral relations owing to Dutch know-how in the shipping industry, water management and maritime logistics on one hand, and the maritime growth potential and ambitions on the Indian side, on the other.

More extended maritime security cooperation between India and the EU should be the next port of call.