17 March 2025, NIICE Commentary 9987
Dr Chander Shekhar
As the world grappling with multiple crises on different continents, and countries starting from the Global South to the great power, namely, the United States under President Donald Trump 2.0, seeking to settle down war in Ukraine and achieve durable peace, the group of seven advance economies of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US, including the EU convened their Foreign Ministers Meeting (FMM) on 12-14 March 2025 in Charlevoix, Quebec. The group sought to achieve agreements on critical issues of shared interests, including among others the Ukraine’s peace plan and maritime security and prosperity. The meeting was concluded under the leadership of Canada’s foreign minister, Melanie Joly, and issued a joint declaration on Maritime Security and Prosperity. Likewise, prioritizing issues of global significance and providing solutions with the G-7 perspective on the divisive round table on issues such as tariffs and others. The meeting was pivotal for several reasons to strengthen the coordination, enhance trust between countries, agreeing on Multiplex issues, and set a tone to work together by addressing global security challenges.
G7 Group and Maritime Security
Maritime safety and security are directly linked with global development and stability. The growth of countries is dependent on the use of oceans without disturbances. Countries are dependent on freedom of navigation for trade and commerce including the G-7 members. Therefore, these countries in the past meetings, especially the 2016 Japan FMMs, have condemned piracy, armed robbery at sea, organized crime, terrorism, IUU fishing, etc that pose a significant threats to global prosperity and security.
The group of seven countries, a bloc of industrialized democracies, had a formation root before the 1973 oil crisis on 25 March 1973. Initially took shape as a group of four, such as West Germany, France, the UK, and the US, which subsequently expanded to seven members. It is a widely accepted fact that more than eighty percent of international trade is passed through sea and over 97% of global data flows through submarine cables. Any disturbances from state or non-state actors would directly present a threat to international energy, food, global supply chain, and international economic stability.
Priorities
On the margin of the Munich Security Conference, the FMs issued a joint statement that prioritize maritime security issues in the Indo-Pacific region as it has become one of the potential zones of future collaboration and strategic competition between rising and risen powers. The Indo-Pacific faces challenges in the form of inter-state competition, marine protection, blue economy, human security, welfare, and protection of seafarers.
The Ministers Joint Declaration, in response to the challenges, recalled the threats that present on safe seas and freedom of navigation as well. The growing concerns were noted down and rejected any sort of status quo change through the force in the Taiwan Strait, South China Sea, Red Sea, and the Black Sea. China’s activity was given prime focus by the leaders who condemned its “illicit, provocative, coercive and dangerous actions that seek unilaterally to change status quo and undermining the stability of regions through land reclamations”. To respond, the local newspaper of the People’s Republic of China denounced the allegations made by the G-7 members which were “filled with arrogance, prejudice and malicious intent”, and “the G7’s imperialist nostalgia has no place in the 21st century”.
The leaders have further placed significant focus on stability in an unstable maritime domain; restricting the attempt to change the status quo by force, protecting critical maritime and undersea infrastructure, joint efforts to deal with maritime crime, and protecting freedom of trade from pirates and terrorism in the Red Sea. Merchant shipping and its stakeholders require a safe and secure ocean to achieve supply chain security. The developed countries’ leaders recognize the threats emanating from “the rise of unsafe and illicit shipping practices, including fraudulent registration of companies that leave seafarers abandoned. Along with building the confidence of seafarers in the industry, fraud companies’ registration must pass the guidelines of the International Maritime Organizations.
Expansion of Cooperation with Non-G 7 Partners in Maritime Security and Prosperity
Maintaining a secure and safe maritime domain is not an individual country’s responsibility, collective efforts are required to deal with common challenges. The G7 group is committed as stated in their declaration to cooperate with non-G7 nations with the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity to achieve an open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific region.
The declaration also presents a future road map to cooperate and find synergy with other countries in areas such as “hosting major ports, large merchant fleets, extensive flag registries as well as relevant regional and international organizations such as the international maritime organizations”, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was specifically mentioned in the declaration to expand cooperation as it plays an indispensable role in the Indo-Pacific region with its inclusive approach. The cooperation between the country’s Coast Guards was felt, which led members to organize future the Global Coast Guard Forum in Italy this year.
Conclusion
The March 2025 G-7 Foreign Ministers Meeting was a watershed moment, tested the diverse positions taken by member states, which built consensus on issues that matter to global safety and security, such as maritime security and safety, including protection of merchant shipping for trade with non-G7 cooperative framework. The priorities of member states are visible in their consensus to achieve shared goals and uphold shared principles in maritime security. The group needs to step up to find synergies with the Global South countries to achieve safe merchant shipping and strike down unregistered and fraudulent shipping companies for growth in maritime.
Dr Chander Shekhar was associated with the Research Information System for the Developing Countries and the Indian Council of World Affairs.
