India, South Korea Coast Guards Hold Talks to Strengthen Maritime Cooperation

The Indian Coast Guard and the Korea Coast Guard have held high-level talks in Incheon, South Korea, to strengthen bilateral maritime cooperation and enhance strategic engagement between the two agencies, the Defence Ministry said on Thursday.

The 14th High Level Meeting between the Indian Coast Guard and the Korea Coast Guard was held on October 14, focusing on strengthening existing cooperation and identifying measures to improve operational coordination, according to an official statement. During the meeting, both sides reviewed their existing operational frameworks and discussed a roadmap to expand collaboration across key areas, including maritime search and rescue, marine pollution response, maritime law enforcement and capacity building.

The discussions also covered ways to improve operational coordination between the two maritime security agencies, officials said. Reaffirming their commitment to the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the two Coast Guards agreed to strengthen professional exchanges, conduct joint training exercises, facilitate bilateral ship visits and enhance real-time information sharing.

These measures are expected to improve coordination and strengthen the agencies' ability to respond to maritime emergencies and security challenges. The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of both Coast Guards to deepen operational synergy and contribute to maintaining a safe, secure and environmentally sustainable maritime ecosystem in the region, the ministry said.

The Indian Coast Guard delegation is on an official visit to the Republic of Korea from October 13 to 16. The Indian delegation was led by Inspector General T Sashi Kumar, while the Korean delegation was headed by Senior Superintendent General Im Myeong Gil, the ministry said. The meeting underscores the importance both countries attach to cooperation between their maritime security agencies, particularly in addressing shared challenges at sea.