External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is currently in New York to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), on Friday (local time) co-chaired an event on 'AI in the Context of International Peace & Security, with an Emphasis on Maritime Security.'
Jaishankar, who co-chaired the event with Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis, noted that the development of emerging technologies must go hand in hand with safeguards to mitigate potential threats to international peace and security.
In a post on X, the External Affairs Minister stated that during the session, he stressed the importance of leveraging artificial intelligence (AI)'s potential while anticipating its impact and addressing the risks it may create. He added that this requires promoting innovation while also taking into account the technology's implications for security.
Jaishankar also noted that the New Delhi Declaration stresses democratic access to AI resources, building secure and trustworthy systems, investing in human capabilities, and harnessing AI for economic growth and social good.
In terms of the maritime domain, Jaishankar highlighted that evolving technology can boost maritime domain awareness, including search and rescue, disaster response, identification of suspicious activity, and resilience of ports and critical infrastructure. He added that, at the same time, the technology can also allow "sophisticated reconnaissance, vulnerability mapping & cyber operations targeting vessels, communication networks & undersea infrastructure."
The Indian minister further noted that greater automation in maritime systems could complicate issues of attribution, accountability and escalation, while leaving less time for critical decisions. He added, "...that in the maritime domain, the UN Charter & international law, including the law of the sea, remain essential frameworks governing State conduct. Greater transparency, confidence-building, capacity development, technical cooperation & exchange of best practices are essential to ensure that AI is developed and used consistent with these principles."
Jaishankar also reaffirmed that both artificial intelligence and maritime security are important for India and the United Nations.
Jaishankar, who has been in New York since 20 September, also co-chaired the India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Troika Ministerial Meeting in New York on the sidelines of the UNGA, where he reviewed the progress of the 2024-2028 Joint Action Plan and discussed ways to advance the partnership.
According to a PTI report, Jaishankar reiterated New Delhi's commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation and safeguarding seafarers as well as commercial vessels.
Separately, Jaishankar signed the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime on the sidelines of the UNGA, stating that the pact would boost international cooperation for a safer digital future.
Swati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.<br><br> Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.<br><br> At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests.<br><br> She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.<br><br> Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.
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Facts Only
* External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar co-chaired an event on 'AI in the Context of International Peace & Security, with an Emphasis on Maritime Security' during the 81st UNGA in New York.
* Jaishankar co-chaired the event with Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis.
* The development of emerging technologies requires safeguards to mitigate threats to international peace and security.
* The session stressed leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) potential while anticipating its impact and addressing risks.
* New Delhi stresses democratic access to AI resources, building secure systems, investing in human capabilities, and harnessing AI for economic growth and social good.
* In the maritime domain, technology can boost domain awareness for search and rescue, disaster response, identification of suspicious activity, and infrastructure resilience.
* Technology can also allow sophisticated reconnaissance and cyber operations targeting vessels, communication networks, and undersea infrastructure.
* Greater automation in maritime systems could complicate attribution, accountability, and escalation, reducing time for critical decisions.
* The UN Charter, international law, and the law of the sea remain essential frameworks governing State conduct in the maritime domain.
* Jaishankar reaffirmed the importance of AI and maritime security for India and the United Nations.
* Jaishankar co-chaired the India-GCC Troika Ministerial Meeting on the sidelines of the UNGA to review the 2024-2028 Joint Action Plan.
* Jaishankar reiterated New Delhi's commitment to freedom of navigation and safeguarding vessels during the GCC meeting.
* Jaishankar signed the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime on the sidelines of the UNGA.
Executive Summary
Full Take
The discussion surrounding AI in security necessitates balancing the drive for innovation with the established constraints of international law, particularly in sensitive domains like maritime operations. The framework presented suggests a tension between technological capability—which can enhance situational awareness and operational efficiency—and the necessity of maintaining legal and ethical governance structures to prevent systemic risk. The emphasis on attribution and accountability in automated maritime systems highlights a critical gap: technological advancement often outpaces the development of commensurate regulatory and legal mechanisms. Furthermore, the recognition that technology can facilitate sophisticated cyber operations underscores a reality where security is increasingly defined by information control as much as physical force.
The call for transparency, confidence-building measures, and capacity development to govern AI use in this context echoes broader geopolitical concerns regarding the democratization and potential weaponization of advanced technologies. The interplay between maritime security and cyber capabilities suggests that strategic competition is now fundamentally embedded in the infrastructure's digital integrity. The insistence that international law remains essential grounds for State conduct serves as a necessary anchor against a purely technological determinism, reminding actors that international norms must constrain emergent power dynamics. The focus shifts from merely deploying technology to ensuring its application adheres to established principles of freedom, accountability, and shared security interests.
What are the long-term implications of prioritizing "human capabilities" alongside AI integration? If automation complicates attribution, how does this challenge existing structures of international maritime law when vessels or infrastructure are involved in potential conflicts? What mechanisms must be prioritized over mere technical cooperation to ensure that AI deployment serves collective security rather than exacerbating existing power asymmetries between states?
Sentinel — Human
The text reads like a compilation of official diplomatic reporting integrated with an author bio, suggesting a human editorial effort rather than pure synthetic generation.