India announced on Wednesday they had joined the Djibouti Code of Conduct or DCOC, a grouping on maritime matters aimed at countering piracy, as an observer as part of efforts aimed at enhancing maritime security in the Indian Ocean region. The move to join the grouping followed a high-level virtual meeting held on August 26, the external affairs ministry said.
On January 29, 2009 DCOC, which goals to repress piracy and armed theft towards ships within the western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, was adopted by the representatives of Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania and Yemen.
The 18 member states are situated in spaces adjacent the Purple Sea, Gulf of Aden and the east coast of Africa and come with island international locations within the Indian Ocean.
But even so India, the opposite observers within the grouping are Japan, Norway, the United Kingdom and the USA.
“As an observer at [DCOC], India seems to be ahead to running along side… member states in opposition to coordinating and contributing to enhanced maritime safety within the Indian Ocean Area,” the exterior affairs ministry mentioned.
