Era of Fragmentation: Geopolitics, Climate, and Blue Finance

As global multilateralism faces increasing fragmentation and geopolitical conflicts disrupt traditional trade routes, small island developing states (SIDS) are positioning themselves as critical "Big Ocean States." From managing maritime choke points in the Indian Ocean to navigating severe climate adaptation costs, debt burdens, and infrastructure gaps, ocean states are reformulating their role in global governance and trade security.

In this concluding panel from Sagarmanthan: The Great Oceans Dialogue, international leaders and representatives discuss how small and coastal nations can leverage local innovation, pursue debt-for-environment swaps, combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and forge strategic partnerships across the Global South.

Panellists:

Mohamed Nasheed, Former President, Maldives

Arvin Boolell, Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries, Mauritius

João Jorge Matlombe, Minister of Transport and Logistics, Mozambique

Krystal Fane Kite, Chief Operations Officer, Royal Oceania Institute, Tonga

Moderator:

Harsh V. Pant, Vice President, Observer Research Foundation, India

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