India urges global action to protect vital maritime trade routes

India has appealed to the international community to collectively protect crucial maritime corridors essential for the uninterrupted flow of food, fertilizers and fuel across global markets.

Addressing the UN Security Council High-Level Open Debate on 'Food Under Fire: The Security Council's Role in Mitigating Global and Local Food Crises' on Tuesday, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni emphasized that secure and predictable shipping routes are indispensable for global stability. "Food insecurity remains one of the gravest humanitarian consequences of armed conflict," Parvathaneni said, noting that modern conflicts increasingly create consequences extending far beyond immediate conflict zones.

Parvathaneni highlighted how disruptions to energy markets, fertilizer supplies, maritime transport, humanitarian logistics and agricultural trade stemming from regional conflicts have cascading effects on food security worldwide. The ripple effects have been most severe for developing countries with high import dependence, he noted, underscoring the need for coordinated international action to maintain maritime security and protect vulnerable economies from supply chain shocks.

The appeal comes as geopolitical tensions continue to threaten key shipping lanes and global commodity markets, with implications for India's own food and energy security amid its growing trade commitments across Asia and beyond.