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Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti Delivers Landmark Maritime Diplomacy Win as Liberia and India Launch Historic Global Coalition on Shipping and Seafarers at UN Headquarters; rallying 27 nations behind Liberia-led initiative that advances President Boakai’s ARREST Agenda
BY: Rufus Divine Brooks Jr.
New York, September 25, 2026 – In a powerful demonstration of results-driven diplomacy, the Republic of Liberia and the Republic of India on Friday jointly launched the Group of Friends on Safety and Security of Shipping and Seafarers (GoF on S4) at United Nations Headquarters in New York — transforming a bilateral concept conceived during Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti’s historic India visit into a major global coalition.
The landmark launch, held on the margins of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81), convened 27 Member States represented by Foreign Ministers, Deputy Foreign Ministers, Ambassadors, and senior officials who delivered resounding statements of support, signaling broad international momentum behind the Liberia-India initiative.
The initiative stands as a signature diplomatic achievement of Foreign Minister H.E. Mme. Sara Beysolow Nyanti and a direct outcome of her official visit to India in August 2026, during which Liberia formally reopened its resident Embassy in New Delhi after more than 35 years.
What was explored in New Delhi as a bilateral concept for deeper maritime cooperation has, within weeks, been elevated by Minister Nyanti into a multilateral platform jointly led by Liberia and India and backed by major maritime powers including France, Greece, Türkiye, Russia, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, Sierra Leone, the Philippines, Portugal, Panama, Bahrain, Malta, Singapore, Viet Nam, Croatia, Indonesia, Cyprus, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka.
For the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the progression exemplifies Minister Nyanti’s leadership philosophy, translating high-level bilateral engagements into concrete, action-oriented initiatives that advance Liberia’s national interests while contributing to solutions for shared global challenges.
The launch reflects the broader development vision and international leadership of His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Nyanti emphasized that maritime security is not an abstract foreign policy issue — it is central to President Boakai’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
“More than 80 percent of the goods that power, feed and sustain our world move by sea.
The global economy does not run on abstract figures; it moves on water,” Minister Nyanti declared.
She noted that commercial shipping is operating under unprecedented and compounding pressures — including geopolitical tensions, piracy, armed attacks, disruptions to major transit routes, cyber threats, and persistent gaps in the protection of seafarers.
Minister Nyanti stressed that secure maritime corridors directly support trade, investment, food and energy security, resilient supply chains, and Liberia’s ability to harness its vast maritime resources for national development.
Against this backdrop, Minister Nyanti highlighted the compelling synergy that makes Liberia and India natural leaders for this initiative.
Liberia operates one of the world’s leading international ship registries, while India contributes one of the world’s largest workforces of skilled seafarers, officers, and technical professionals.
“When Liberia’s regulatory reach meets India’s maritime workforce, our shared responsibility to the global commons becomes undeniable,” she said.
At its core, the Group of Friends will focus on three critical priorities: the safety of shipping, the security of maritime corridors, and the protection and dignity of seafarers.
The Group will provide a dedicated platform for flag States, coastal States, port States, seafarer-supplying countries, and other stakeholders to strengthen coordination, exchange best practices, promote implementation of existing international instruments, and keep the protection of seafarers high on the international agenda.
Minister Nyanti was unequivocal that the coalition is designed to deliver results.
“The Group of Friends is not a symbolic gesture.
It is an action-driven multilateral coalition,” she stressed.
“We are not here to duplicate. We are here to complement and strengthen.
The initiative will operate within the established frameworks of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), while leveraging the collective diplomatic and maritime weight of participating countries to strengthen policy, operational standards, and protections for the men and women serving at sea.
She particularly emphasized the human dimension of maritime security, insisting that the seafarers who sustain global commerce must remain at the center of international maritime policy.
Minister Nyanti also commended the critical work of the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA), under Commissioner General Neto Zarzar Lighe, Sr., and the Liberia International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), for strengthening Liberia’s maritime sector and underpinning the country’s international leadership in shipping.
Liberia’s position as a leading flag State, she noted, brings not only economic benefits and international prestige, but also a profound responsibility to ensure that global shipping remains safe, secure, and responsive to the welfare of those who operate commercial vessels.
The initiative further elevates Liberia’s growing multilateral leadership as the country serves on the United Nations Security Council for the 2026–2027 term — seamlessly connecting Liberia’s considerable maritime authority with its responsibilities for international peace and security.
Concluding her remarks, Minister Nyanti issued a clarion call for governments, international organizations, maritime stakeholders, and social partners to support the initiative and ensure that the lives, safety, and dignity of seafarers remain at the center of global maritime policy.