# India, Liberia launch seafarer safety group at UNGA

2026-09-25T23:36:51+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

India and Liberia have established a Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed the inaugural meeting, calling attacks on civilian shipping indefensible and urging the international community to close ranks against such threats. The initiative follows recent attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf region. Foreign ministers and senior diplomats from 23 other countries, including Russia, Germany and Japan, participated in the meeting. Jaishankar recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's proposal at the recent BRICS summit for a Seafarers Emergency Support Network. The group consists of major ship-owning states, countries with the largest ship registries, and those providing the most seafarers. The Times of India reports the minister stressed stronger international cooperation was needed to deter such attacks.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Coverage across all three sources is uniform neutral reporting on the launch of the shipping safety group. The Times of India and NDTV focus narrowly on the initiative's details and Jaishankar's remarks, while India Today blends it with other diplomatic items, including a rebuttal to Pakistan. No source adopts a critical or oppositional framing. The story is straightforward diplomatic reporting. The key takeaway is the operationalisation of this group, which will now need to coordinate responses among member states to protect seafarers in conflict zones like the Red Sea.

## Coverage

- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/on-unga-margins-india-liberia-set-up-sailors-safety-body/articleshow/134492296.cms>
  Straight news reporting on the group formation and minister's remarks.
- ndtv.com (neutral report) <https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-liberia-launch-safety-group-to-protect-seafarers-amid-attacks-on-ships-12099523>
  Brief factual announcement of the initiative with no editorialising.
- indiatoday.in (neutral report) <https://www.indiatoday.in/india/video/unga-81st-session-jaishankar-address-seafarer-safety-initiative-rebuttal-to-pakistan-ytvd-3003336-2026-09-26?utm_source=rss>
  Lists the initiative among other UNGA developments without slant.

Tags: BRICS, Group of Friends on Shipping Safety, Liberia, Narendra Modi, S Jaishankar, United Nations
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