NEW DELHI: In a groundbreaking initiative, New Delhi performed host to the inaugural EU-India Track 1.5 dialogue on combating the usage of unmanned aerial programs (UAS) by extremists and non-state actors on Thursday, February 8, 2024. Representatives from the European Union and India convened for a day-long roundtable aimed toward gaining deeper insights into the varied array of present and rising threats related to consumer-grade UAS know-how.
Navigating Regulatory and Tactical Challenges
Discussions centred on the trade of greatest practices regarding regulatory frameworks, tactical responses, and investigative methods to successfully counter the proliferation of UAS threats throughout each areas.
Rise of Commercial UAS Technology
The fast evolution of economic unmanned aerial programs has witnessed a surge in each technological developments and widespread client accessibility. However, this surge has additionally offered violent extremists with alternatives to take advantage of these versatile and inexpensive units for reconnaissance and even violent assaults.
Echoes of Concern
EU Ambassador to India, Hervé Delphin, voiced considerations concerning the dual-use nature of those units, stating, “If a relatively cheap device can carry and send a pizza or biryani, then clearly, they can also be used for carrying more nefarious payloads, such as weapons or explosives.”
Fostering Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
Highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts, Ambassador Delphin emphasised the significance of occasions just like the EU-India roundtable in enhancing collective approaches to combatting particular threats confronted by each areas. MA Ganapathy, Director General National Security Guard, underscored the evolving terrorism panorama, emphasizing the crucial for world cooperation in growing efficient methods to counter the misuse of UAS and different rising applied sciences by terrorists and non-state actors.
Joint Endeavors for Security
This pivotal roundtable, organized by the EU-backed mission ESIWA in partnership with the National Security Guard of India and the EU Delegation to India, marks a milestone within the ongoing counterterrorism engagement between the EU and India.
Continued Cooperation
Building upon earlier initiatives, reminiscent of CBRN threat administration coaching and knowledgeable discussions on countering on-line extremism, the EU and India reaffirmed their dedication to bolstering safety cooperation and stopping violent extremism by way of sustained dialogue and collaborative motion.
