The 4th Coast Guard Global Summit (CGGS), held in Rome, Italy, from September 11–12, 2025, represented a historic milestone as it was the first time the summit was hosted outside of Japan since its inception in 2017.
Co-chaired by Italy and Japan, the summit operated under the theme “Guardians at Sea,” reflecting the evolving role of coast guards as front-line actors in global maritime governance.
Summit Key Highlights
The event gathered delegates from 115 countries and international organizations, underscoring its status as the premier global platform for maritime safety and security.
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- Maritime Safety & Environment: Discussions focused on emergency responses to marine pollution, natural disasters, and the protection of the marine environment (SDGs).
- Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA): Reaffirmed the importance of advanced technology and information sharing to monitor traffic and ensure the resilience of underwater infrastructure and supply chains.
- Law Enforcement: Addressing transnational maritime crimes, including piracy, armed robbery, and Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
- Establishment of a Global Website: Leaders supported the launch of a dedicated information-sharing website to facilitate best practices and human resource development among member agencies.
India’s Significant Role
India was a key participant, represented by a delegation from the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) led by Director General Paramesh Sivamani.
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- Tactical Expertise: India delivered a keynote lecture titled “Guardians Against the Blaze: ICG’s Tactical Response to Fire Emergencies,” showcasing its specialized expertise in maritime firefighting and disaster response.
- India-Italy Strategic Partnership: On the sidelines, India and Italy engaged under their Joint Strategic Action Plan (2025–2029) to expand bilateral cooperation in maritime crime prevention.
- The Next Host: India successfully bid to host the 5th Coast Guard Global Summit in 2027. This upcoming summit will be held in Chennai and will coincide with the Golden Jubilee (50th Anniversary) of the Indian Coast Guard.
Strategic Milestone: For the first time, a European country (Italy) chaired the summit, bridging the gap between European and Indo-Pacific maritime security frameworks and recognizing the Italian Coast Guard’s 160th anniversary.
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