Indo-Pacific countries are participating in a UN-led training initiative to combat organized crime in the Indian Ocean, focusing on enhancing maritime security. This initiative, organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), involves drills like the one near Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, where local military personnel intercepted a smuggling ship and quickly uncovered hidden drugs using advanced technology. The training includes coast guards from 17 nations, such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines, who face challenges from drug smuggling and China’s increasing maritime assertiveness.

The Indian Ocean has become a significant route for drug trafficking from Central and Southeast Asia, and many countries in the region lack the resources to effectively combat maritime crime. China’s growing presence in the region has also spurred more countries to join the initiative. Japan, a significant financial backer since 2022, supports the drills as part of its broader strategy for a free and open Indo-Pacific, collaborating with the U.S. and other partners. The involvement of a U.N. agency makes this initiative accessible to countries that prefer to remain neutral in the U.S.-China rivalry, including India, which joined the initiative this year.