India and Liberia have strongly condemned attacks on shipping and seafarers, as co-chairs of the Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers (GoF on S4).
In a joint statement, both nations have strongly condemned the string of unacceptable attacks that commercial ships and seafarers have been subjected to in the Gulf and its vicinity, and the Black Sea over the past few days. The joint statement stressed that these actions that disrupt maritime trade and cost innocent lives are simply indefensible. Both nations have called for immediate cessation of such attacks in the interest of peace and stability in the region. They extended condolences to the families of the seafarers who have lost their lives and prayed for the early recovery of those injured.
India and Liberia launched the GoF on S4 on 25th September this year. The joint statement said both nations stand ready to support more coordination to discourage recurrence of such attacks and to safeguard the rights of seafarers.
