India signs ascension pact to the 30-member Trans Regional Maritime Network

India Monday signed an ascension pact to the 30-member Trans Regional Maritime Network that will give it an access to the information on ships passing through the Indian Ocean Region.

India already has bilateral White Shipping Agreements with 36 countries.

"India today signed Ascension Agreement to the Trans Regional Maritime Network (T-RMN). The multilat (sic) construct comprises 30 countries & is steered by Italy. Cmde KM Ramakrishnan signed the agreement at Rome in Italian Naval Hq on behalf of #IndianNavy," the Navy's spokesperson tweeted.

The pact will give India the access to information on ships which pass through the Indian Ocean region that will greatly help the security forces in keeping a tab on any suspicious activity, an official said.

The IOR is India's backyard and first respondent to any crisis situation.