India and South Korea Deepen Maritime Cooperation at 13th High-Level Meeting Between Coast Guards.
New Delhi:
In a significant step towards bolstering regional maritime security and operational synergy, the 13th High-Level Meeting (HLM) between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and the Korea Coast Guard (KCG) was held in New Delhi on July 21, 2025. The meeting marks a continuation of ongoing bilateral efforts under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2006, aimed at strengthening cooperation in areas of Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR), Pollution Response (PR), and Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE).
The high-level dialogue was co-chaired by Director General of the Indian Coast Guard, S Paramesh, and Commissioner General KIM Yong Jin, who leads the Korea Coast Guard. Commissioner General Kim is heading a five-member Korean delegation on an official visit to India from July 20 to 24, 2025.
During the meeting, both sides reviewed the existing maritime cooperation framework and expressed strong commitment to enhancing interoperability, operational coordination, and exchange of best practices. The discussions focused on joint exercises, mutual training opportunities, technology sharing, and coordinated responses to environmental and maritime security threats.
“This meeting reinforces the strategic maritime partnership between India and South Korea, rooted in trust, shared values, and a common vision for a secure and rules-based maritime order,” said DG S Paramesh.
Commissioner General Kim Yong Jin echoed the sentiment, noting that the two coast guards share a history of successful cooperation and reaffirmed Korea’s continued support for collaborative initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region.
Strengthening Industrial and Operational Ties
As part of the visit, the KCG delegation is scheduled to travel to Mumbai from July 23 to 24, where they will undertake an industrial visit to Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL)—one of India’s premier shipbuilding yards. The itinerary also includes a visit to an Indian Coast Guard patrol vessel, offering the Korean delegation a firsthand look at India’s shipbuilding capabilities and maritime operational infrastructure.
These engagements are aimed at deepening industrial collaboration and enhancing mutual understanding of each other’s maritime security architecture and technologies.
Continued Partnership in the Indo-Pacific
The India-Korea Coast Guard partnership forms a crucial component of both countries’ broader maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, a region increasingly central to global trade, security, and environmental concerns.
The regularity of such high-level interactions underscores a shared commitment to regional maritime stability, combatting transnational crimes at sea, and ensuring safety of navigation.
This 13th HLM not only reaffirms the strength of bilateral maritime ties but also lays the groundwork for future initiatives, including joint training, coordinated patrols, and technology exchanges, in pursuit of a secure, sustainable, and cooperative maritime future.
