India and Liberia Form Maritime Safety Group to Shield Seafarers Amid Rising Attacks

India and Liberia announced a new “Group of Friends” for maritime safety on 25 September 2026, during a ministerial‑level briefing at the UN General Assembly. The initiative, framed by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, responds to a surge of attacks on vessels in the Gulf, Red Sea, and surrounding waters, with Indian seafarers making up a significant portion of the crews at risk.

At the meeting, Jaishankar warned that these assaults were “no longer exceptional” and urged an international coalition to protect merchant shipping. Liberia’s Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti highlighted the country’s position as the world’s largest shipping registry and pledged to share vessel registration data for real‑time threat intelligence.

Reports from the past months detail multiple boarding attempts, missile strikes, and cyber‑attacks on commercial vessels, with several crews injured or forced to abandon ship. The group will facilitate rapid information exchange and coordinated intercept missions, drawing lessons from past naval exercises in the Red Sea.

Families of seafarers in port cities across India have voiced cautious optimism that the partnership will reduce the risk of future attacks. A joint task force, slated to launch by October, will conduct joint maritime drills, share surveillance data, and establish a hotline for reporting threats.