New Delhi, Aug. 9: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is chairing a UN Security Council open debate on “Enhancing Maritime Security — A Case for International Cooperation” on Monday evening via video conferencing. The focus of the debate was to focus on ways to effectively counter maritime crime and insecurity, and strengthen coordination in the maritime domain.

Modi is the first Indian Prime Minister to preside over a UN Security Council Open Debate.

According to the Indian Media, The session has Russian President Vladimir Putin in attendance. Apart from him, several heads of state and governments of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) member states, along with high-level briefers from the UN system and key regional organisations, are also attending the meeting, the Indian MEA said Sunday.

The UN Security Council has discussed and passed resolutions on different aspects of maritime security and maritime crime, the MEA said. However, this will be the first time that maritime security will be discussed in a holistic manner as an exclusive agenda item in such a high level open debate.