With thirty participants from twenty-one Asian-African countries joining the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India (GoI), flagship ITEC Course on “Fundamentals of International Law and Security”, hosted by the School of Integrated Coastal and Maritime Security Studies (SICMSS), Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU), a pioneering National Security and Police University under the Ministry of Home Affairs, was inaugurated on Monday 28 July, 2025 at the Lavad, Gandhinagar Campus.

The inaugural ceremony of this two-week Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme witnessed the presence of H.E. Dr. Kamalinne Pinitpuvadol, Secretary-General, Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) as the Chief Guest besides the gracious presence of Prof. (Dr.) Bimal N Patel, Vice Chancellor, Rashtriya Raksha University and other higher authorities of the university.

Addressing the question that led to the setting of tone of the two-weeks training programme, Dr. Pinitpuvadol highlighted the reasons as to why international law should matter to the Global South. Of several reasons shared from the RRU’s platform of ITEC, Dr. Pinitpuvadol pointed out that the international law would continue to serve as a fundamental instrument for settling disputes between the States and for defending territorial sovereignty and integrity. Additionally, he underscored the significance of the framework of North-South cooperation in combatting the menace of climate change.

Striking a chord with the young students sitting in the auditorium, the Secretary General expressed his optimism that the future of international law would depend on the Global South. Taking note of the ongoing research work at the RRU Centre for International Law, Dr. Kamalinne Pinitpuvadol complimented Prof. Patel for advancing the cause of international law in the region and across the Globe.

In his inaugural address, Prof. Patel welcomed the participants and highlighted India's commitment to multilateralism, global cooperation and capacity building through the ITEC framework. In the decline of strength of resolutions adopted by the United Nations Security Council in the year 2024, Prof. Patel attributed it to the multiple crises engulfing the world order.

Emphasizing the evolving role of international Law amid complex global transitions, he spoke on the relevance of legal framework in addressing the contemporary security threats, geopolitical rivalries, transnational crimes, climate change and humanitarian concerns. In letting know the vision of the hosting School, Prof Patel emphasized on the MAHASAGAR 2025 and Maritime India Vision 2030 and how the School is taking forward these visions laid out by the Hon’ble P.M. Shri Narendra Modi. One such initiative of MAHASAGAR, a quarterly bulletin on Maritime Affairs, taken by the School under the guidance of Prof. Patel was presented to the Secretary General  of AALCO. At the growing training prowess of the SICMSS, he took immense pride in sharing the statistics of 2737 beneficiaries hailing from twenty five plus different countries. This ITEC programme at RRU, Prof. Patel added,  will continue to strengthen its role as a global hub for security education, research and international collaboration.

The Director I/c, Mr. Ankur Sharma, complimented his entire team and expressed hope to meet the expectations of the trainees.

(Release ID: 2150771)