India urges UN action to protect vital sea lanes amid rising supply disruptions
India appealed to the UN for collective measures to keep key maritime routes safe, stressing their importance for food, fertilizer and fuel shipments.
During a high-level UN Security Council discussion on food crises, India’s permanent representative urged the international community to jointly protect critical maritime routes and related infrastructure. He emphasized that predictable shipping lanes are essential for the uninterrupted flow of food, fertilizers, fuel and other necessities, especially for developing nations reliant on imports. The UN secretary-general noted that the Strait of Hormuz handles about a fifth of global oil and a third of fertilizer trade, while Red Sea attacks further strain supply chains.
India proposed rapid humanitarian access, de-confliction mechanisms, and careful design of sanctions to avoid hindering aid or legitimate trade. He also called for objective assessments of supply-chain disruptions, drawing on expertise from the FAO, World Food Programme and similar agencies. Finally, the envoy stressed the need for diversified agricultural production and resilient logistics to reduce vulnerability to geopolitical shocks.
Why it matters
Secure sea lanes are crucial for delivering food, fuel and fertilizer worldwide, especially to vulnerable developing nations.
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