Indian MP Shashi Tharoor expressed support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for improved seafarer safety during the G7 summit in France [1, 2].
This development signals a rare moment of domestic political alignment on a critical maritime security issue. The safety of Indian crews is a high-priority concern for New Delhi, as the country provides a significant portion of the global merchant marine workforce.
Tharoor's endorsement follows a bilateral meeting between PM Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump held during the summit [1, 2]. During these discussions, the Prime Minister raised the issue of deaths among Indian crew members to the U.S. leader [1, 2].
Tharoor said the message was delivered effectively across different formats of diplomacy. "PM Modi made his point clear both in the public and private meeting with the President," Tharoor said [2].
While supporting the Prime Minister's initiative, Tharoor said the focus must shift from symbolic engagement toward concrete policy action [1, 2]. He said the goal is to ensure meaningful outcomes for maritime security, and the protection of personnel at sea [1, 2].
India continues to seek stronger international frameworks to protect seafarers from violence, kidnapping, and hazardous working conditions. The bilateral engagement with the U.S. is seen as a pivotal step in securing the cooperation of global powers to enforce these protections [1, 2].
“PM Modi made his point clear both in the public and private meeting with the President.”
The alignment between Tharoor and PM Modi underscores the strategic importance of maritime security for India's economic and diplomatic interests. By leveraging the G7 platform and bilateral ties with the U.S., India is attempting to move seafarer safety from a humanitarian concern to a formal policy priority for Western powers, which is essential for the protection of its global workforce.
