Arria Formula Meeting on Safe Seas, Shared Security: Protecting Freedom of Navigation in an Evolving Security Environment

Your Excellencies, dear colleagues, good evening. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, peace and blessings of God be upon you. It is my pleasure to welcome you to this RIAA Formula meeting convened by the Kingdom of Bahrain under the title, "Safe Seas, Shared Security, Protecting Freedom of Navigation in an Evolving Security Environment." I would like to thank the French Republic for its cooperation and its capacity as President of the Security Council for this month, the Secretariat for facilitating the arrangements, the briefers for accepting the invitation and for their effort in preparing for this meeting. I would also like to thank the distinguished delegations for their attendance during a week crowded with commitments. The convening of this meeting is not an isolated event. Rather, it is a continuation of a process initiated by the Kingdom last April, when it presided over the Council and convened a high-level meeting on maritime security and the safety of waterways. Those discussions were concluded with a shared diagnosis of the risks. What we attempt to do today is to move from the diagnosis to serious action by considering the following questions: What makes an information sharing and early warning mechanism inclusive and sustainable, rather than limited to arrangements with restricted membership? How can the costs borne by developing countries as a result of disruptions to navigation be measured? And what mechanisms are available to mitigate them? What role can the Security Council play within its mandate in prevention as well as response, including in situations where an international waterway is threatened by control rather than merely by interference with transit? And now I give the floor to Her Excellency Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, ESCWA, Her Excellency Dr. Rania Al Nashat.

Mr. President. Excellencies, members of the Security Council, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Kingdom of Bahrain for the initiative of convening this session in these exceptional circumstances and their invitation to ASCO to participate. Our discussion today tackles a critical challenge, which is safe navigation in an environment compounded by challenges and disruptions with the link between security, trade, humanitarian matters. The current crisis in the Middle East uncovers a fact that some thought that technology had overcome and globalization had defeated. However, it came once again from the Gulf to the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb, waterways, seas and other waterways are linked, carrying food and energy to the entire world. If one cycle is disrupted, the entire chain falls along. The international trade is dependent upon the security of navigation in these waterways. Thus, the repercussions are not only constrained to the water, but also touch the storage and the origin and transit routes. And this has its repercussions on all other channels, especially when there will be other social circumstances. Such disruptions are clear from the new developments in Bab al-Mandeb Strait over the past few days. It has proved the risks surrounding waterways and its clear and direct connection to international peace and security. Thus, those supporting routes do not necessarily end such vital points, but can actually move it to other pipelines. The plurality of such waterways do not ensure the sustainability. Their complementarity ensures it. Thus, the region must undertake important development and recovery measures to ensure the sustainability. However, this crisis threaten years of reform. Thus, and policies, as well as the measures undertaken by the countries of the region, tell two stories. One of them is huge disruptions that led to undermining the movement of ships and the cost has spiked and a story of a region that confronted the challenge with their abilities, infrastructure and other to redirect the shipping and using supporting waterways that were initially invested in. Allow me to stress some figures. The importance of these waterways go beyond the importance of the waterways, the Strait, uh, move more than 25% of this, uh, um, uh, the energy, especially, uh, the gas, the, the GCC, move between 20 to 40% of the, uh, movement of ammonia and other, uh, minerals, so any disruption in this trade will have its repercussions on fertilizers, food, and others. According to the estimates of the ISWA, the cost of the conflict in the first month of the conflict reached $150 billion. This is 4% of the regional GDP. Mr. President, The threat does not start when the strait is closed. However, when passing through, it becomes a risk that the shipping companies and insurance companies cannot carry the cost. Thus, it reaches the price in the market before it reaches the country. The consumer bears the consequences. There is another point that must not be avoided, which is the SMEs that make the lion's share of the work of entrepreneurs in the Arab world. With increasing price of energy and shipment, the productivity and operation diminishes. The problem is not in halting trade, but that there will be less employment opportunities and the companies will reflect a socioeconomic problem, not just a trade issue. Mr. President, the receipt of this crisis is not shared equally. Before the crisis, nine out of 22 countries have been going through conflicts or were going through post-conflict. They had problems with infrastructure, weak institutions, reliance on imports for food and energy. So when the cost rises because of the repercussions of the current crisis, the ability of those countries to support citizens diminishes and efforts to develop also are undermined. So reform and trust in institutions also diminishes and there will be no resilience. The conflict does not go across borders through weapons alone. The safety of waterways is not an objective in and of itself, but a precondition for development. Thus, we must see safe seas as part of collective security, not just a narrow objective. No matter how great a country is, they cannot not face such challenges alone. Mr. President, confronting the current challenge necessitates effective and coherent response based on three interconnected pillars. First, safe waterways and the security of vessels and waterways in line with international law. These are pillars for stability and development, protecting the influx of energy, security, and food to ensure productivity. Second, containing conflict and containing its repercussions across borders to also contain the repercussions on people and trade. We have to also consolidate our effort to ensure the influx of basic services. After the crisis, ESCWA launched a team to ensure supply chains and support response and open up a technical dialogue to ensure sustainability and manage risks. Work focuses on uncovering means for early warning and crisis management rooms that can be helpful for greater preparedness and decision-making. This proves the role of ESCWA in group thinking and choices. We have built capacities and ensured rapprochement between countries of the region to achieve socioeconomic objectives and promote complementarity between the countries of the Arab region. Let's also refer that in parallel, the region is still in need of doubling investment in ports, linking the different sea, ground, and other means of communication. There are so many choices to ensure the influx of commodities and other issues. Ensuring national owned projects is important. We have to warn of the challenge before it arrives. We have to coordinate movement before the shock becomes a huge socioeconomic cost. Geography defines, but it does not prevail. We have to make the geographical situation a place to link and ensure cooperation that will proved to be positive for development. Geography came in strength. We have to confront the strength of geography by cooperating. The lesson is clear. What happens in our region is not contained in our region. What supports the region supports the entire world. The current crisis threatens all gains of development. We have to translate the declared intentions into sustainable capacities and efforts that will have its impact on all.

I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General Dr. Rania Mashat for her important contribution and for highlighting the economic and geographic and social impacts of the threat facing critical waterways. I would like to give the floor now to His Excellency, Acting Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the UNCTAD, Mr. Pedro Manuel Moreno. The floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. I thank the Kingdom of Bahrain and His Excellency Dr. Al-Sayani for convening this very timely discussion. The title of this meeting, "Safe Seas, Shared Security," carries a plain truth. Maritime security is not only a security question. It is also an economic question, and for the countries most exposed, a development question too. More than 80% of world merchandise trade by volume moves by sea. When a choke point is disrupted, the shock travels quickly through freight and insurance costs, energy and food prices, supply chains and household budgets, foreign currencies and debt markets. Recent events show how quickly this happens. In the Straits of Hormuz, tanker freight has risen to record levels. As of late August, certain rates between the Middle East and East Asia have climbed above $120 per ton, which is triple the rate a year ago. War risk premiums remain elevated. Few ship owners are willing to enter. Since July, these pressures are now being compounded by a second choke point. Renewed disruptions around Bab el-Mandeb have affected a route that had itself become an alternative to Hormuz. For Saudi crude, ships from Jambol to South Korea, avoiding Bab el-Mandeb extends delivery from about 24 days to roughly 54 days, which is one additional month at sea. The result is more fuel consumed, more vessel capacity tied up in transit, higher costs, and higher emissions. Port congestion is magnifying the pressure. In early September, vessel berthing delays at Salalah reached 36 hours. Choke point disruption cascades into congestion, schedule, and reliability, and further delays. The stakes extend directly to food security. Around one third of global seaborn fertilizer trade which is about 16 million tons, normally passes through Hormuz. Natural gas is also a key input for nitrogen-based fertilizers. When energy, fertilizer, and transport costs rise together, they affect planting decisions, yields, food prices, and of course, future harvests. And the burden is not shared equally. UNCTAD's latest analysis identifies 61 vulnerable economies exposed simultaneously to oil and to cereal import shocks. Many are least developed countries, small island developing states, or economies already facing high debt service burdens and limited fiscal space. For them, the shock can last much longer than the disruption itself. Small island developing states often depend on a narrow set of shipping connections for food, fuel, and for essential imports. Landlocked developing countries may be far from the sea, but their exposure runs through a limited number of transit corridors and neighboring ports. A soon that's review of maritime transport has warned, repeated disruption can make higher logistics costs structural, eroding competitiveness, discouraging investment, and making integration into global value chains harder. So, Mr. Chair, UNCTAD is not only analyzing this problem. We are working with the Secretary-General's task force, alongside with UNOPS, IMO, and the International Chamber of Commerce to advance concrete solutions on the Strait. The Secretary General has proposed a practical time bound confidence building mechanism for consideration by member states, initially focused on fertilizers and related raw materials. It would not substitute for the full restoration of navigational rights and freedoms, but its purpose is to reduce risk, improve predictability for essential goods, and create space for diplomacy and de-escalation. UNTAD brings institutional experience to this work. During the Black Sea initiative, we helped address the trade, shipping, insurance, payment, and logistics constraints that can prevent political agreements from translating into actual flows of food and fertilizer. A second recommendation is broader. Resilience must be built before the next choke point closes. That means stronger early warning data, contingency planning, trade facilitation, and more resilient ports and transit corridors with particular support for LDCs, SIDS, and LLDCs. Safe navigation is not only a principle of international security. It is a condition for stable trade, food security, and sustainable development. UNCTAD stands ready to support member states in this area through analysis, practical solutions, on the trade and transport expertise needed to turn commitments into results. I thank you.

I would like to thank.

Mr. Moreno for his important briefing and his overview of the impact of maritime security on the economies of developing countries. And I give the floor now to His Excellency, Mr. Thomas Kazakos. Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping. The floor is yours, sir.

Mr. Chairman, Excellencies, distinguished members of the Security Council, fellow briefers. The International Chamber of Shipping, ICS, warmly praises the Kingdom of Bahrain for organizing this very important area of formula Security Council meeting at such a grave time and concern for the international shipping for seafarers. as well as, of course, for global trade system. Excellency Minister, many thanks for inviting ICS to participate. As the global trade association representing shipowners and ship operators around the world and the global shipowner national associations with over 80% of the commercial fleet, we come before the Security Council today with one simple message: shipping must not be held to ransom. More than 90% of the world trade is carried by ships. Behind every ship, there are seafarers carrying food, energy, medicines, raw material, and essential goods to communicate around the world. They are civilians. They are not parties to geopolitical conflicts. As such, they must not be become collateral to those, Mr. Chairman. The situation in the Strait of Hormuz and the region demonstrates why this matters. It is one of the world's most important arteries of international commerce, carrying approximately one quarter of global seaborne oil trade and major volumes of LNG and fertilizers. The disruption has been extraordinary. As we've heard from UCTAD before, Recorded shipping transits through the strait fell by around 95% during this crisis. More worrying though, the International Maritime Organization confirmed incident record has documented dozens of attacks and serious incidents involving commercial shipping, with seafarers killed, injured, captured and missing. The human cost is devastating. 22 seafarers have already sadly lost their lives, not to mention the many more such casualties at the Black Sea and elsewhere. These are not statistics. They are people who went to sea to do their job and support their families. This is not simply a shipping crisis. It is a crisis for people, for trade, and for the global economy. In addition to this very serious humanitarian issue, we also raised today our major concern regarding the legal status of the strait. RCS position is clear. The Strait of Hormuz is a maritime passage used for international navigation, and the right of transit passage must be respected in accordance with international law. The ability of commercial ships to navigate international waters safely, predictably, and without unnecessary impediment is crucial to international maritime law and to the global trade system. Straits, therefore, cannot become a place where commercial shipping is required to obtain permission, negotiate its passage, or accept arbitrary restrictions simply because geopolitical tensions have escalated. This is not a privilege to be granted or withdrawn according to political circumstances of the day. It is a fundamental legal principle of this very house and organization. And if that principle is weakened in one international strait, the consequences will not stop at the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, or the Strait of Bab al-Mandab, but will extend far beyond the region and far beyond shipping. It will establish an unfortunate precedent that international rules can be sidelined and global trade can be held ransom in the interest of narrow geopolitical interests. This will also increase the cost of moving food, energy and essential goods. It will increase insurance premiums, freight rates and make supply chains less reliable. Ultimately, It will disproportionately affect developing countries, small island states, and countries that heavily depend on imported energy and food. Excellencies, we are already seeing the consequences when shipping is forced away from established routes. Rerouting adds days or weeks to voyages, consumes additional fuel, requires additional ships and crew time, and increases emissions. Excellencies, For these reasons, there must not be compulsory tolls or transit charges for lawful passage through any international strait, including Hormuz. There is a fundamental difference and distinction between legitimate charges for specific services received and a compulsory payment imposed as a condition of passage resulting from an armed conflict. As we have written to the UN Security Council President earlier in August, the United Nations and governments must not allow a toll to be called a service fee, a coordination charge, a clearance payment, or something else, and thereby create the same result. A strategic international waterway must not become a political tollgate. Otherwise, the political message from such action, or better still, inaction, will be equally clear. Whenever there is political or military conflict around the world, the easiest way to resolve this and also to exhort money is by attacking commercial ships, injuring or killing seafarers, and by blocking international maritime passages. Mr. Chairman, Excellencies, nearly 1 billion people live in countries highly exposed to rising fuel costs, with vulnerable economies, face potentially billions of dollars of additional energy import costs. Ships can manage operational risks. They cannot navigate indefinitely, though, through political uncertainty. Seafarers can perform their duties. They cannot be expected, though, to sacrifice their lives for geopolitical objectives. The shipping industry will continue to work closely with governments, the United Nations, the IMO and regional partners. But the industry cannot resolve a fundamentally political problem. Political action is required urgently. I will end with three clear requests from the international shipping industry. First, freedom of navigation must not be conditional. Freedom of navigation is simply free navigation. Second, International straits must not become toll roads. And finally, commercial ships and seafarers must not be held at ransom.

Thank you.

I thank Mr. Kazakos.

The importance of freedom of navigation and the need to protect the sea figures, so as to protect the security of various maritime routes. I now give the floor to Ms. Beate Andress, Assistant Director General for the Regions and Director of the Office of Director General of the International Labour Organization, joining us by VTC.

Mr. President, Excellencies, Distinguished members of the Security Council, Thank you for the opportunity to draw attention to a group of workers who are too often invisible, in particular when conflict affects international shipping: the seafarers on board. For them, The ongoing maritime security crisis is not an abstract disruption to global trade. It is a direct threat to their lives. According to the International Maritime Organization, since the current conflict in the Middle East began on 28 February, 80 attacks on merchant vessels have been verified in and around the Strait of Hormuz. At least 22 seafarers have lost their lives and many others have been injured, as we have also just heard. In April this year, the officers of the special tripartite committee of the Maritime Labour Convention, that includes the International Chamber of Shipping and the International Transport Federation, have expressed their grave concern about approximately 20,000 seafarers stranded in that area. They called for urgent cooperation to safeguard their lives, safety and well-being. Five months later, thousands of seafarers remain affected by the disruption. Around 5,000 have not been able to leave their vessels and are still stranded in those waters. Thousands continue sailing through waters threatened by missiles, drones and mines with a real fear that each day could be their last. Numerous seafarers find themselves in situations of abandonment, without wages, food, water or electricity. Many are unable to go ashore, receive medical treatment, be replaced by colleagues, or return home. Communication with family and friends is often very difficult. Excellencies, our message today is simple. Conflicts do not suspend seafarers' fundamental rights. The ILO Maritime Labour Convention, adopted in 2006, continues to apply in times of crisis. And it is precisely during these periods that the protection it provides should be more scrupulously enforced. This convention, ratified by 113 member states representing more than 96% of the world fleet, guarantees seafarers' fundamental right to a healthy and safe environment. It provides protections concerning the quality of food and water, repatriation, health and medical care on board, and, more broadly, the right to decent working and living conditions. In particular, seafarers requiring immediate medical care must be given access to medical facilities ashore. In 2025, the Convention was amended, building on a UN General Assembly resolution, to formally recognize seafarers as key workers and to request Member States to protect their rights at all times, including the rights to shore leave, medical care and repatriation. The reality today shows that rights on paper are not enough for seafarers who are trapped aboard vessels in conflict zones. There is another fundamental issue. In April, the officers of the Special Tripartite Committee also emphasized that seafarers must be able to freely choose whether to work in high-risk areas without fear of negative consequences for their future employment. According to the information available to the International Labour Organization, that principle is not a reality for all seafarers. We therefore need stronger arrangements in place to support seafarers during this and future crises. Ladies and gentlemen, let me highlight two practical measures. First, India has recently proposed the establishment of an international emergency support network for seafarers, linking maritime authorities and diplomatic missions to provide seafarers with rapid assistance during emergencies. This proposal deserves careful consideration. The ILO has been working closely with the IMO and the international social partners to address the situation of affected seafarers, in particular those in need of urgent assistance. However, more needs to be done. Second, we must ensure the full and effective implementation of the protections that already exist in the Maritime Labour Convention and other important UN and IMO treaties. In the medium term, the ILO Office stands ready to support tripartite discussions on any proposals for amendments to the MLC that could further reinforce existing protections and strengthen our collective capacity to respond when normal arrangements break down. Excellencies, seafarers keep global supply chains moving. during pandemics and periods of extraordinary danger at sea. They should never be considered collateral damage of maritime insecurity. The international community has established the standards. Our urgent responsibility now is to ensure that those standards translate into protection, assistance, and safe passage for every seafarer. Thank you.

I thank Madam Andries for her briefing and for all of the information that she has provided with regard to the practical aspects of maritime security and in particular safety and security of seafarers. And I now give the floor to Mr. Christian Buga. Fellow at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research and Professor of International Relations at the University of Copenhagen. You have the floor, sir.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Excellencies, colleagues, friends of the ocean. Let me thank the Kingdom of Bahrain at the outset for organizing this important meeting and for inviting me here to brief. The ocean is the lifeline of our world order and global economy. Trade, energy, food, development, and the stability of nations and regions are all at stake. Today, we face a significant erosion of the rules and norms that have long governed the sea, and it is time for the Security Council and the international community not only to react, but to anticipate, to steer us back into safer waters and work towards global maritime peace. The age of gray zone strategy and tactics has arrived at sea, and that implies that many of our categories of what counts as responsible conduct are eroding, and the challenges are mounting on every front. We see a growing number of kinetic attacks on merchant ships by states and non-state actors. In the Western Indian Ocean, a dramatic resurgence of piracy is reversing decades of hard-won success. Uncertainty is growing across the globe over how strategic waterways, the canals and straits that we all depend on, should be governed and how safety should be organized. New ambiguities have arisen over who has the right to enforce what kind of sanctions and over when boarding and seizures of civilian vessels are legitimate. We lack clear rules for the responsible use of naval mines and drones. but also for digital interference, including spoofing and jamming of signals. On top of that, blue crimes, whether that's smuggling, deliberate pollution, or illicit fishing, remain rampant worldwide, and as a result, marine biodiversity is in decline. Many of the regional maritime security architectures that we have built over decades are too weak to cope with any of this. Maritime security is a global responsibility. It requires the whole UN system to work concertedly. For that, we need to look beyond the current Strait of Formosa situation and recognize that we are not facing a set of localized emergencies. It is a larger crisis of the maritime order itself. And this really needs to sink in and it needs strategic consequences. Above all, we need a process to organize the global dialogue on responsible behavior at sea. Those of us in the research community, including at UNITAR, have long pointed out that maritime security has no natural home in the UN system. We lack the systematic information and analysis that is needed to inform strategic choices. Many UN agencies, some of which we have heard from today, are active in this domain, but there is no sustainable strategy and too little ambition to coordinate. Fixing that problem would also make the UN's work more effective and less costly, would save money. The Security Council is vital not only as a place for dialogue, but also for advancing the sustainable strategy for maritime security. I would like to reiterate that many of the options of how to proceed in the Council and beyond are already on the table. Let me emphasize three concrete steps here. First, At a very minimum, make maritime security a standing issue on the Council's agenda, an annual debate ideally informed by an annual state of maritime security report from the Secretary General. Second, think further. Appoint a special envoy or convene a blue ribbon panel to develop stronger options for dialogue and addressing the knowledge gaps and norm deficits. Third, and perhaps most consequential in the long run, work towards establishing a permanent clearinghouse mechanism, a center of competence, a center of excellence that can provide the data that is needed, the expertise, the legal analysis, the coordination function that the domain currently lacks. The clock is ticking in many ways. People are suffering now and they will do so in the future if no strategic vision is developed and concrete steps are actually being taken. And there's no less at stake than the global order and global maritime peace. Thank you so much.

Ashker, Professor Burger.

I thank Professor Buga for his substantive comments and the proposals that he made in the area of international cooperation and in the area of strategies to be implemented to deal with the maritime security challenges. We're now going to give the floor to members of the Security Council who would like to make statements. And if I may, I will take the floor as Foreign Affairs Minister of Bahrain. I would like to thank all of the speakers. And I take the floor on behalf of the Kingdom of Bahrain. We have just heard a number of statements with regard to risks, we have heard two clear examples. They are not hypothetical. These are a reality that we are experiencing. The first example is that of the Strait of Hormuz. Indeed, the Kingdom of Bahrain, as well as a number of countries in the region, have been victims of unjustified Iranian attacks, fully reprehensible, that have been accompanied by threats and have affected navigation. This has led to a disruption of maritime traffic in a channel where a significant share of the world's energy supplies passes. The second example is Bab al-Mandab, where the nature of the threat has changed. It is no longer merely a matter of indiscriminate attacks on passing vessels, as serious as those attacks are. Much rather, the terrorist Houthi group has advanced towards the strait itself. There is a considerable difference between targeting a particular vessel and an armed non-state actor exercising their control over an international waterway. This situation has been accompanied by repeated attacks against the territory of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, targeting civilian and economic facilities in Abha, Kamis Mushait, Taif, Jizan and Najran, which has led to several victims amongst civilians. Tuesday evening, the Joint Forces Command of the coalition also announced having intercepted and destroyed a drone launched towards the city of Mecca before it entered restricted airspace for the holy city. This is not a Saudi problem. The security of the two holy mosques is a serious matter for all Muslims everywhere. We reiterate our full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has an inherent right to defend itself in accordance with international law. Members of the Security Council have already previously condemned these kinds of attacks in their press statement issued on the 7th of August. There is also a more recent incident that warrants particular attention. That is the attack against the East-West pipeline, which was originally constructed as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz. This means that the alternative solution itself has become itself a target. That provides an important lesson. for those who believe that the solution to the vulnerability of maritime corridors is simply to circumvent them. Today, we see that alternative infrastructure itself can also be subject to attack. The real solution lies, therefore, in confronting the problem rather than avoiding it. The situation in Yemen and in the Bab al-Mandab Strait was also before the Council at a special meeting last Tuesday. The discussions that took place at that meeting underscored the importance of the issue that we are asking ourselves about today. What does it mean when vital maritime corridors can become vulnerable to closure or control by any given party? And what tools do we have at our disposal today to be able to react to this kind of situation? I'm not trying here to engage in any kind of polemic. However, we do need to call facts by their proper names. This is an essential prerequisite for any serious response. It is impossible to confront a threat if we can't identify it, name it. At the same time, any disruption of maritime corridors affects people far removed from its causes. This could be a port in East Africa, for example, a factory in South Asia, or a family living on a small island awaiting the arrival of a supply vessel. Freedom of navigation is not a negotiable interest. It is a principle guaranteed by the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea. And this is a rule relating to the transit passage through straits used for international navigation. Moreover, the International Maritime Organization, for its part, has also established a framework for the prevention of unlawful acts against the safety of maritime navigation. So what we need today is not new rules. On the contrary, what we need to do is to close the gap between existing rules and practice. And in response to the questions raised at the outset of our meeting, I'd like to say the following. Firstly, moving from discussion to action depends on four principal elements. First, strengthening maritime domain awareness, information sharing and early warning, particularly through arrangements that enjoy broad participation. Secondly, it involves enhancing preparedness so that the response can begin before the damage has taken place and not after the fact. Thirdly, protecting seafarers, because these are the first to bear the burden of this crisis, particularly by ensuring the immediate release of those detained and ensuring that we set up accountability mechanisms for those responsible for attacks against vessels. And fourthly, we must ensure the rapid restoration of navigation and trade. There is another dimension that has not received the full attention that it deserves and which briefers have begun to discuss today in detail. We need to ensure that navigation can continue, but we must also understand that developing economies pay a very high price when it comes to insurance premiums that have to be paid. This has a serious impact on the prices of food, medicine and fuel. When grain cannot reach its destination. This has a serious effect on food security, particularly in the Horn of Africa, East Africa and South Asia. Moreover, small island developing states and landlocked countries suffer from this situation in particular. Their situation is particularly serious. It means an interruption of supplies and not just an increase in costs. The overwhelming majority of the world's seafarers are nationals of developing countries, and it is they who bear the direct human burden, which is very high. This is why we emphasize the following, namely that the security of maritime corridors is a development issue just as much as it is a security issue. Any response must involve increasing involvement of those countries affected. Otherwise, no solution will last. In conclusion, and guided by the approach of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening international peace And our doors will always be open to all partners who believe, as we do, in the security of the seas. This is a shared security. Now, I would like to give the floor to members of the Security Council, and I begin with Latvia.

Thank you, Excellency. And allow me to begin by thanking the Kingdom of Bahrain for organizing this Area Formula Meeting on Freedom of Navigation and Evolving Security Environments, and to welcome the presence of His Excellency Dr. Abdulatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain. And I also thank the distinguished briefers for their valuable contributions. The world has long faced threats of piracy, maritime crime and natural disasters. However, the norm of state actors complying with international navigation standards went mostly unchallenged for decades. This state of play has now rapidly shifted as increasingly ruthless state actors attempt to use international waterways as leverage to essentially blackmail the world by threatening critical supply chains and global economy. Maritime security and the well-established norms of freedom of navigation have therefore become a major challenge on the global stage. This issue has never been as prominent for maintenance of peace and security and for the Security Council agenda as it is now, so this discussion could not be timelier. Iran and Russia have been disrupting global maritime commerce for their own political gain in complete disregard of international law and the humanitarian economic consequences of their actions. Iran has been trying to restrict free and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, an international waterway hosting countless crucial supply chains, striking commercial vessels, just as it has been striking civilian infrastructure in its neighboring states in the Gulf and beyond, in direct violation of the Council Resolution 2817. Russia has been perpetrating unjustified strikes against Ukrainian civilian Black Sea port infrastructure and vessels since the first months of its full-scale invasion. These attacks have escalated recently, killing and injuring seafarers of various nations, targeting civilian vessels, merchant vessels, even flagged and owned by third countries. Crucially, these targeted vessels are transporting grain to supply countries across the globe, desperately needed for the world's poorest. These actions share an immoral strategy of trying to gain geopolitical advantage and putting pressure on one's opponents at the expense of vulnerable populations in other parts of the world. Worryingly, we are seeing a similar pattern reemerging in the Red Sea and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, as this critical global waterway is increasingly under the threat of intimidation and attack from the Iran-backed Houthis. To be clear, all economies across the globe are affected by attacks and threats on freedom of navigation. be it in Hormuz, the Red Sea or Black Sea. However, it's the most vulnerable, least well-off parts of our global community across Africa, South Asia and other regions, especially in active conflict zones and humanitarian emergencies that feel the effects the hardest. The supply chain disruptions, rising fuel prices, food prices, shortage of fertilizers mean that millions more facing acute food insecurity as the harvest season continues to be severely affected and consequences will outlast even freedom of navigation is restored. Other attempts by state actors to either sidestep or deliberately breach international law are additional risk multipliers endangering maritime trade, communications and environment. Among these threats, we must include the shadow fleets, operating outside any safety parameters to unlawfully evade sanctions. And another key risk stems from sabotaging the subsea cable infrastructure worldwide. Finally, a robust and meaningful response to these complex challenges involves a multilayered effort. First, we must redouble on our commitment and strengthen the implementation of international law at sea, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. International waterways are governed by clear legal principles and no political considerations may interfere with freedom of navigation. Another layer is increased awareness raising and coordination at all levels, most notably within the IMO, but also in regional organizations and other fora, while keeping the Security Council seized on threats that undermine navigational rights and freedoms. mechanisms such as US-led initiatives and the proposed UK-France-led defensive mission for the Strait of Hormuz.

Also have a practical role to play. To address marine supply chain disruptions and sabotage.

States must work collectively with the private sector to establish redundancies, determine alternatives, and identify gaps before the next crisis arrives. while implementing international sanctions and closely cooperating with the flag states to combat the use of unsafe vessels. To conclude, Excellency, allow me to conclude by reiterating our call for an immediate cessation of attacks against lawful civilian shipping, including in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, and against the Ukrainian grain export infrastructure in the Black Sea. Latvia will remain a steadfast defender of maritime security and free and safe navigation.

Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Latvia for her statement, and I will give the floor to the distinguished representative of Liberia. You have the floor, sir.

Thank you, Your Excellency. We join in expressing our gratitude to the delegation of Bahrain for convening us and joining, welcoming you, Your Excellency, to this meeting and thank certainly the briefers for their insightful comments. The point bears emphasizing. When a single maritime choke point closes, it is not just ships that are stranded. It is the lifeline of the global economy that gets blocked. As the world's largest ship registry by gross tonnage, Liberia speaks from the front line of commercial navigation. When a missile strikes the Red Sea or a mine threatens the Strait of Hormuz, the shock waves do not stop at the water's edge. They reverberate directly into consumer markets, driving up freight and insurance premiums, and turning daily bread, energy, and fertilizer into unaffordable luxuries for millions across the global south, most acutely across Africa. The briefers are right. Navigation of freedom is not an abstract concept. It is the circulatory system of human survival. To preserve it, Liberia presents three imperatives. First, law must govern the waves. Freedom of navigation and transit passage are not privileges granted at political discretion. They are universal rights codified in UNCLOS and the U.N. Charter. The international community must never normalize unilateral interference, harassment, or lawlessness across critical international waterways. Second, we must replace escalation with neutral multilateral deconfliction. Military buildup alone cannot guarantee commercial passage. Liberia backs the Secretary-General's good offices to establish a neutral UN-led deconfliction framework focused on insulating civilian merchant vessels and safeguarding critical flows of grain and fertilizer. To endure, this architecture must remain technical, rules-based and anchored in close cooperation with regional littoral states and the International Maritime Organization. Third, civilian seafarers must never be collateral damage. Merchant mariners are noncombatants. They are the quiet backbone of international trade. It is unconscionable that those who feed and power our world face captive detention, physical peril, and targeted attacks. Liberia demands rapid rescue and repatriation protocols, unimpeded medical access, and zero impunity for assaults on commercial crews. Excellencies, Our duty in this council is unambiguous. We must secure our oceans for the benefit of humanity, not militarize it for confrontation. Firmly aligned with the African Union's maritime vision, Liberia stands ready to bridge divides and protect our common arteries. The seas belong to shared human progress. Let us defend them together and keep it that way. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Liberia for his statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Kingdom. You have the floor.

Thank you, Excellency. The United Kingdom thanks the Kingdom of Bahrain for her leadership in bringing this important matter to the Council. We welcome the focus of this meeting on safeguarding freedom of navigation and strengthening the resilience of critical maritime routes. Thank you to the briefers for their expert contributions. As a maritime nation, the United Kingdom has a long-standing commitment to maritime security. and to defending the rules-based international order at sea. We are resolute in upholding the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which sets the legal framework for all activities in the oceans and seas. Over the last five years, the world has experienced major maritime disruptions in the Black Sea, the Red Sea, the Strait of Hormuz, and this trend risks continuing if we don't act now and together. The Houthis' decision to resume conflict in Yemen, their continued strikes in the region and on Saudi Arabia, and their reckless attacks in the Red Sea threaten freedom of navigation, transit passage, and undermine maritime security in the Bab al-Mandab. Actions by Russia, Iran, and their proxies have significantly eroded international security, cost the lives of seafarers, burdened the global economy indiscriminately, often hitting the world's most vulnerable people. Wheat prices rose 25% between January and July this year. Prolonged disruption across vital routes will only add further pressure to global food security and disrupt access at fertiliser and food. The impact on cost of living is immediate and it is global. Navigational rights and freedoms, including the right of transit passage through international straits, must be upheld and protected. Commercial shipping and seafarers' lives must not be used as leverage. Unlawful restrictions or tolls must not be imposed on international waterways. The stability of the network of sea lanes covering the worldwide maritime domain is a global common good from which we all benefit. Disruption in any part of this network can rapidly generate economic and security impacts well beyond the immediate region. Maritime security is too often treated as a regional issue, when a concerted international effort will be needed to protect the whole of this vital and globally connected domain. And we urge all states to speak out against unlawful maritime disruption. The security of our critical maritime routes is a shared responsibility. The United Kingdom remains committed to working with Bahrain, with the International Maritime Organization, and with partners across the international community to uphold international law, to defend freedom of navigation, to protect seafarers, and to strengthen the resilience of the maritime routes on which our world depends. Thank you, Excellency.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United Kingdom for her statement, and I'll give the floor to the distinguished representative of China. You have the floor.

Chair, I welcome His Excellency Minister of Foreign Affairs, Al Zayani, for presiding over this meeting, and I thank all the briefers for their presentations. The ocean serves as a vital link connecting countries, while international shipping links are the arteries of the global economy. Recently, navigation through the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted, while risks to maritime security in the Bab el-Mandab Strait and the Red Sea have increased. These developments have affected global energy and food security as well as the stability of industrial and supply chains, with particularly pronounced impacts on the Global South. All parties should uphold the spirit of cooperation and properly address the risks and challenges. I would like to make four points. First, work towards an immediate ceasefire and an end to the hostilities. Fundamentally, disruptions to international shipping links are the spillover effects of the conflict. Unless the fighting on land is brought to an end, it will be difficult to fully restore security at sea. All parties concerned, particularly Israel, should sincerely and fully implement the ceasefire agreement and work towards achieving genuine and lasting peace in Gaza. We encourage the US and Iran to maintain rational and exercise restraint, return to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding as soon as possible, and on the basis of consensus reached thus far, reconstruct the negotiation mechanisms and engage in substantive consultations on issues of concerns to both sides. China does not wish to see regional tensions further spill over into Yemen and the Red Sea, and calls on all parties to stop further complicating the situation. and to resolve issues through dialogue and consultations. Second, uphold the basic principles of international law. The UN Charter and international law must remain the fundamental norms governing the handling of Middle East affairs. The international community, in particular major powers from outside the region, should reject double standards, respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries in the region, and refrain from readily resorting to the use of force or unilateral sanctions. Humanitarian issues must not be politicized. All parties to the conflicts are obligated to strictly abide by international humanitarian law, ensure safe and unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance, and avoid attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. Third, help alleviate the difficulties facing countries of the Global South. The rights of commercial vessels of all countries to navigate in accordance with international law should be respected by all parties. China urges all parties to take effective measures to reopen the Strait of Hormuz at an early date and safeguard the safety and unimpeded flow of international shipping links. China supports dialogue between the Gulf countries and Iran based on mutual respect for territorial sovereignty and national security, and to safeguard the common interests of the region in a constructive manner. China welcomes Secretary-General Guterres' initiative to establish an operational mechanism for the Strait of Hormuz and supports a greater role for the UN. Fourth, promote the building of a new security architecture for the Middle East. The current situation once again demonstrates that the existing security architecture in the region is inadequate and needs to be reformed and strengthened. We call for the people of the Middle East to determine their own future and support countries in the region in strengthening dialogue on peace and security and exploring ways to reshape the regional security architecture. Efforts should be made to seek comprehensive solutions to hotspot issues and advance a more integrated approach to common security in the region. China supports countries in the region in embracing a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, developing good neighborly and friendly relations, and achieving peaceful coexistence. Chair, the disruption of international shipping links reflects deep-seated problems in global security governance. Recently, President Xi Jinping has put forward four proposals for maintaining and promoting peace and stability in the Middle East. four principles for advancing the solution of the Palestinian issue, and four initiatives for building common security in the Middle East, thereby contributing China's solution to achieving long-term stability and peace in the region as a whole. China has always stood on the side of peace, on the side of dialogue, and on the right side of history, and will, as always, contribute to promoting reconciliation and negotiations, upholding fairness and justice, and maintaining peace and stability. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of China for her statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Denmark. You have the floor, madam.

Your Excellency, Minister Al-Sayani, we thank you for your presence, and we thank Bahrain for hosting today's ARIA meeting. I also would like to thank all the briefers for their important contributions today. Chair, as a top 10 global shipping nation, Denmark is acutely aware of the importance of maritime security. The world's oldest long-distance mode of transport remains the backbone of the global economy, moving around 85% of international trade. It is one of the key factors underpinning the interconnected world. Open sea lanes are vital to international peace and security. This is particularly the case for food and energy security. Attacks in recent years on commercial ships in the Black Sea, the Red Sea, in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman have caused spikes in energy and commodity prices.

As always, this has impacted the most vulnerable across the world.

Tragically, increased food insecurity is now a certainty for millions. with less grain available for immediate consumption and less fertilizers for crops in the next growing season. The recent instability in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait only exacerbates these pressures. It is a very concerning development. Throughout Denmark's term on the Security Council, we have consistently focused on food security, including in our August signature event on conflict and hunger. Such debates have shown how critical waterways impact food security, most notably in the Global South. Chair, Denmark's approach to maritime security is anchored in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. In international straits, unencumbered passage must be the starting point. We cannot permit littoral states to threaten or attack commercial shipping. We unequivocally condemn the illegal obstruction of key international straits. We also recall the thousands of seafarers trapped on vessels or in ports in the Gulf.

As we have heard about from Madame Adrees today.

We demand that they be allowed to return to their loved ones in safety. Iran's de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz is unacceptable and it's unlawful. Denmark is ready to participate in the UK-French-led, independent and strictly defensive multinational military mission in support of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, once conditions allow. Denmark also contributes to the EU maritime operation ESDP in the Red Sea to defend freedom of navigation. Chair, in closing, maritime security is a prerequisite for global peace, stability and prosperity. UNCLOS and the freedom of navigation must be upheld. Denmark will continue to work with partners to keep maritime routes open, to safeguard the flow of food and energy, and ensure no country can use critical waterways as instruments of coercion. We believe the Security Council has a vital role to play in this. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished.

Representative of Denmark for her statements. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Pakistan. You have the floor, sir.

Excellency, Foreign Minister, we are pleased to see you preside over this important meeting organized by the Kingdom of Bahrain. And I would like to join colleagues in thanking our briefers for sharing their valuable insights. President, the concept of maritime security has evolved over time and one of the major achievements of post-World War II order is open, safe and free maritime space, which ushered in a rapid development of global economy, trade and investment. The global maritime domain is presently in the grip of intractable challenges. It has morphed into a locus of intensifying global geopolitical competition and the intersecting challenges of the 21st century. Myriad nontraditional threats ranging from piracy and terrorism to human trafficking and climate-induced risks have added another layer of complexity to this existing challenge. Disruption of commercial shipping and attacks on merchant vessels, both in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab, has underscored that crises at sea have grave implications for continents and countries. The volatility at these maritime chokes have not only imperiled peace and stability, but also skyrocketed energy prices and heightened fears of global food insecurity. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime trade route for the transit of one-third of globally traded crude oil and a significant share of global fertilizer trade. Its geostrategic location also makes it vital for region security and stability. Pakistan is deeply concerned at the disruptions in the Strait, including attacks on commercial shipping. We reiterate our strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our brotherly countries in the region which are adversely impacted by the volatility and violence in the Strait. Pakistan calls for an immediate de-escalation of tensions, security of ships and crew members navigating through the Strait, and restoration of normal passage through the Strait. Pakistan strongly condemns the nefarious designs of Houthi militia to weaponize Bab al-Mandab by launching attacks on merchant shipping and innocent seafarers navigating the Strait. These attacks seriously undermine maritime security and threaten peace and development of regional countries, especially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is facing blatant and unprovoked aggression by the Houthis. Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, security and prosperity of the Kingdom and stands in complete solidarity with its leadership, government and brothers and sisters. We call upon Houthi militia for immediate cessation of these provocative acts which could have dire consequences for maritime security and regional peace and stability. President, as one of the literal states of Indian Ocean with overwhelming reliance on sea-borne trade and as a party to UN Convention on Law of the Sea, Pakistan attaches paramount importance to maritime safety and security. It is our principal position that global shipping should not become a casualty of conflict and strife. Instead, it should remain a driver of global trade and economy. Guided by these foundational principles, Pakistan acted as a mediator between Iran and the United States following the outbreak of hostilities between the two countries. With the support of our friends and partners, we spearheaded diplomatic efforts for de-escalation and broader regional stability, culminating in a ceasefire and Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. We shall continue to make efforts for a negotiated settlement of all outstanding issues for an early return to normalcy at sea and land. In pursuit of this objective, Pakistan looks forward to working with all peace-loving nations in region and beyond for furtherance of maritime peace and security and safety of commercial shipping and merchant vessels. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Pakistan for the statement. I give the floor now to the distinguished representative of Panama. You have the floor.

Thank you very much, Chair. As a maritime nation, the Republic of Panama welcomes and recognizes the initiative of the Kingdom of Bahrain, as well as your sustained efforts to promote maritime security and to highlight its contribution to international peace and security. And we'd also like to cordially welcome His Excellency, Mr. Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain. This initiative is particularly relevant, given the growing vulnerability of the major shipping routes over recent months. Critical maritime corridors such as the Hormuz Straits and most recently the Bab al-Mandab straits in the Red Sea have been affected by situations contrary to international law that have interrupted or hindered free transit, leading to disruptions in global trade and endangering supply chains, particularly those related to the energy sector. These events demonstrate, I think, the challenges facing the international community in guaranteeing respect for international law and the effective implementation of Security Council resolutions. We cannot allow these actions to normalize lack of respect for international law or reduce our collective ability to respond effectively to these situations. Chair, in this context, we are very concerned as we see the recent reports about the growing use of AI tools by the Houthis to strengthen their military capacities, including the development of guided missile systems to attack vessels. in a situation where we have seen repeated attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea and elsewhere. This shows how technologies that are increasingly accessible can be used by non-state actors to expand their operations. and we see that their operations are becoming ever more sophisticated. This brings into the whole situation a new element to the challenges already facing international shipping. The convergence between emerging technologies, the proliferation of weapons that feed conflicts, and the involvement of non-state actors requires renewed attention by this Council and the international community. Given this reality, Panama feels that we need to move from a reactive posture to a preventive and coordinated approach. We must strengthen our collective capacity to anticipate new forms of threats and avoid technological progress being used to undermine international law and threaten commercial shipping or to further destabilize these strategically important shipping corridors. Panama believes it's essential to strengthen information exchange, early warning systems and cooperation between states, as well as the capacity to protect merchant vessels. seafarers and critical maritime infrastructure. Chair, the security of maritime routes is not just an issue of trade. It's also an issue of international security, energy security, and the well-being of millions of people throughout the world who depend on safe and predictable supply chains. An effective response requires coordination, prevention, and collective responsibility. Thank you very much, Chair.

I thank the distinguished representative of Panama for the statement. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Greece. You have the floor.

Your Excellency. I thank Bahrain for convening this important meeting on an issue of critical importance to international peace and security, and I welcome the presence of His Excellency, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, in today's meeting. For Greece, maritime security remains a strategic topic of fundamental and enduring importance. And I would like to thank the briefers for their insightful contributions, which helped shed light to the importance of our topic. In recent months, the international community is witnessing an escalation in attacks against international shipping, both in frequency and intensity, by state and non-state actors. These threats are expanding in scope and nature, including through the growing use of emerging technologies and the proliferation of advanced weaponry, such as ballistic missiles and UAVs. The radically deteriorating security environment across the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait underscores a direct threat to the civilian populations, jeopardizing safety, livelihoods, and freedom of movement. The human cost of this escalation, therefore, needs to remain at the center of our response. I will make four points. First, freedom of navigation and the right to safe, open, and unimpeded passage are fundamental, non-negotiable principles. The international law of the sea is essential to the maintenance of international peace and security and global trade. We do not lack established rules. What is required of us is the full, consistent and effective implementation of the rules that already exist. They cannot be selectively applied, circumvented, or subject to conditionality upon unilateral demands or arbitrary restrictions, including unjustified tolls or other financial exactions. The existing international legal framework with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea at its core provides the essential legal foundation for the security and stability of the maritime domain. UNCLOS sets out the universal and unified legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out. Second, Equal attention should be given to the maritime governance architecture and the institutions that underpin it. Addressing today's complex maritime security challenges calls for a coordinated, multi-pronged response. The International Maritime Organization is central to this architecture. At the same time, maritime security spans multiple institutional mandates. This calls for closer coordination and complementarity among the mandates, capabilities, and efforts of relevant UN entities, international and regional organizations. The Security Council has its own part to play here, particularly where threats to maritime security bear directly on international peace and security. Dedicated and regular discussions on maritime security are important to coherently address threats, strengthen coordination, and reinforce the implementation of existing obligations and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. Third, we must engage substantively with and listen closely to the private sector, including shipping companies, ship owners, operators, port authorities, insurers, seafarers, and seafarers' unions. Seafarers, in particular, must be at the heart of this work. They are directly exposed to attacks and disruptions to maritime navigation. Their safety, security and welfare should be woven into international efforts to strengthen maritime security. Finally, effective maritime security depends on closer operational cooperation and complementarity among existing mechanisms and actions. We should strengthen maritime domain awareness through timely information and intelligence sharing among flag states, coastal states, the private sector, and relevant international and regional organization. Mr. President, Greece, a leading maritime nation whose history, economy, and identity are closely linked with the seas, has an abiding stake in the respect of the freedom of navigation and the safe and unimpeded passage of commercial vessels. We remain committed to keeping this vital issue on the Council's agenda. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Greece for her statement and give the floor to the representative of the United States.

Also, thank you to the briefers for their perspectives on the challenges facing the maritime domain. Freedom of navigation is not an abstract principle. It is the lifeblood of the global economy. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, the Gulf of Oman, and the Red Sea have shown how quickly instability at a single choke point can affect global energy, food, and humanitarian supply chains. In the face of these threats, President Trump directed firm action to safeguard maritime security and protect seafarers and commercial shipping. The Iranian regime and its partners and proxies, including the Houthis, remain the principal source of this insecurity. Security Council Resolution 2817 adopted with 136 co-sponsors, clearly showed the international community's overwhelming demand that Iran and its partners cease attacks on shipping and neighboring states. Iran repeatedly defies that resolution, firing missiles and drones at commercial vessels and attacking its neighbors, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE. The Houthis, emboldened by Iranian support, terrorize maritime traffic in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden for years, affecting nearly 30% of international container traffic. Recently, the Houthis attacked Saudi commercial vessels while enforcing a self-declared embargo to dictate maritime traffic around Bab al-Mandeb. These actions are in defiance of Security Council Resolutions 2216 and 2817 and will not be tolerated. The United States will not stand by while Iran and its partners and proxies attempt to hold hostage the global economy. As President Trump made clear, the clock is ticking for Iran to end its attacks, remove its mines from the Strait of Hormuz, and allow for the free passage of commercial shipping and humanitarian goods. Peace through strength remains our guiding principle. Deterrence, backed by credible capability, preserves open sea lanes and protects innocent mariners. We urge all council members, including those who shield Iran from consequences, to stand firmly for the rule of international law and the safety of commercial shipping. The United States stands ready to work with Bahrain, our Gulf partners, and this Council to build mechanisms for maritime security that protect seafarers, safeguard trade, and preserve peace.

Thank you.

I thank the representative of the United States for her statement and give the floor to the representative of Somalia.

Good afternoon, Mr. Chair. Somalia thanks the Kingdom of Bahrain for convening this timely Arria formula meeting. I warmly welcome His Excellency, the Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, who is chairing today's meeting, and thank you to our distinguished briefers for their valuable contributions. We welcome the opportunity to address maritime security, which is directly linked to international peace and security, global trade, economic stability, humanitarian access, and seafarer safety. For Somalia, With the longest coastline on mainland Africa and situated at the crossroads of the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden, and the Red Sea, the security and sustainable management of our maritime domain are matters of national and regional importance. Recent disruptions in maritime navigation demonstrate how threats in one maritime area can affect energy flows, food security, global supply chains, and humanitarian operations. They also show how disruption at one maritime route can trigger cascading consequences across interconnected waterways and the global trading system. In this vein, Somalia wishes to emphasize the following points. First, international law must remain the foundation of maritime security. UNCLOS and other relevant instruments provide the legal framework for activities at sea, including navigation through straits used for international navigation. freedom of navigation, and the right to transit passage must be respected, with due regard for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and legitimate security interests of coastal states. As reaffirmed by Security Council Resolution 2817, transit passage must not be unlawfully impeded. Navigational rights must be upheld to ensure safe, secure, and commercially viable passage. Second, Maritime security requires a comprehensive approach. Military measures alone are insufficient. We need stronger maritime domain awareness, information sharing, early warning, and crisis communication, as well as contingency planning for simultaneous or cascading disruptions. We must prepare for overlapping crises. Contingency planning should consider simultaneous disruptions across interconnected waterways and their effects on ports, fuel supplies, insurance, food supply chains, and humanitarian deliveries, particularly where alternative routes are limited. Our institutions must keep pace with evolving risks, including unmanned systems and cyber attacks. Such support should be predictable, coordinated, and guided by national priorities. Third, national ownership and regional cooperation are essential. Coastal states require sustained support for coast guards, surveillance, search and rescue, support security, law enforcement, and judicial institutions. The United Nations, IMO, member states, regional organizations, and the maritime industry should strengthen standing or rapidly deployable incident response arrangements. We must also address the economic and environmental consequences of insecurity, particularly for developing countries. Regional cooperation must also address illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing, trafficking, or smuggling. African Union frameworks and the UNDE architecture should be strengthened rather than duplicated, with relevant private sector actors fully engaged. In conclusion, Somalia is mindful of our shared responsibility for the security and stability of our oceans and seas. Addressing these challenges requires a unified collective approach. grounded in international cooperation and the rule of law. My delegation reaffirms its commitment to working constructively with the Security Council and the broader international community to realize the vision of safe, secure, and prosperous seas for all, ensuring our waterways remain a bridge of peace and prosperity, connecting nations rather than dividing them. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the representative of Somalia for her statement and give the floor to the representative of Russia.

Mr. Chairman, distinguished Minister Al-Zayani, we welcome your personal chairmanship of today's informal Rio Formula meeting of Security Council members, and we thank the briefers for their statements and their contribution to this discussion. the same time, we would like to, from the outset, state that issues of maritime security are not directly related to the mandate of the Security Council. We have consistently worked on the basis of the understanding that, in order to have a substantive consideration of them, there exist other specialized forums. It is regrettable that the concept note for today's meeting does not mention in any way the most serious and a truly global challenge to navigation in the world's ocean. And we refer to attempts by European Union countries and the United Kingdom, relying on the unilateral coercive measures illegally imposed by themselves in violation of international law to seize civilian vessels. Such actions constitute a gross violation of the fundamental provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantees freedom of navigation and the right of peaceful and transit passage. They undermine the very foundation of the stability and predictability of supply chains and, as a consequence, create a serious threat to global trade, a significant part of which is carried out by sea. The stability and predictability of maritime logistics are important for all countries, and for small island states or coastal developing states, this is in actual fact a matter of survival. The imposition by the collective West of illegal unilateral coercive measures in addition to affecting the countries against which they are directed, also impacts an unlimited number of third states for which the consequences of it may range from higher prices of certain types of goods to disruptions in the supply of critically important goods, including such things as food and hydrocarbons. Both the unilateral coercive measures that contravene international law and the restrictions on freedom of navigation, which are their unlawful consequence, accompanied by attaching to vessels the label of belonging to so-called shadow fleet, pursue one and the same objective in securing their own dominance through unfair competition by non-economic means. Right before our eyes, a narrow group of countries consisting almost entirely of former colonial powers is attempting to reserve for itself a monopoly position in the maritime transport market. And we think it's unnecessary to explain what such a situation means for states significantly or entirely dependent on maritime transport. We would like also to separately emphasize that neither international law nor the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea does the concept of a shadow fleet exist. Neither any mention of it nor any reference to unilateral coercive measures can be found in the strictly limited list of grounds for stopping and inspecting vessels at sea. Therefore, the actions of the European pirates of the 21st century have no legal basis whatsoever, Mr. Chair. As concerns the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, as well as in the Gulf of Oman and in the Red Sea, we are convinced that this issue cannot be considered in isolation from the broader regional context. The escalation observed there is a direct consequence of the reckless American-Israeli military adventure. And it was precisely the unprovoked aggression against Iran that set an entire region ablaze. The focus by some delegations on Tehran's responsive actions is an obvious substitution of cause and effect. And this point is best illustrated by the simple fact that before the 28th of February 2026, no disruptions in the movement of commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf area had been observed. We are convinced that the only way to resolve problems with navigations in the above-mentioned waterways is through political and diplomatic efforts aimed at a sustainable settlement of the conflict while taking into account the legitimate rights and interests of all regional states. We expect that the parties will return to the negotiating table as soon as possible, and we are grateful to the States providing them with assistance in this work. For our part, we also stand ready to provide all the necessary support. I thank you for your attention.

I thank the representative of Russia for her statement and give the floor to Colombia. The floor is yours.

Thank you, Chair. Allow me to congratulate the Kingdom of Bahrain for convening this very valuable debate on a subject of concern to all of us. And I'd like to welcome the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain leading our discussions today. Colombia would like to begin by expressing our deep concern at the developments in the Middle East. This is clearly not a de-escalation, it's an escalation of the conflict with the corresponding loss of human lives and with ongoing disruption to the freedom of navigation and its harmful effects for international peace and security. Colombia also recognizes the strategic importance of the straits for international commerce, energy security, and food security. Anything that disrupts safe shipping has impacts beyond the region where this is happening, and it particularly disproportionately affects developing countries. Chair, Colombia is a maritime nation with coasts on both oceans, and we're very much concerned about the sustainable use of natural resources. Due to our geostrategic location, Colombia is exposed to very many maritime security challenges, including maritime drug trafficking, illegal fishing, irregular migration, arms and fuel contraband, and we need to protect our marine natural environments as well. Colombia is not a party to UNCLOS, but we do recognize that it does regulate very much of the maritime area, particularly with regard to the freedom of navigation. And unfortunately, UNCLOS doesn't provide us with all of the answers to all of the circumstances that pertain to the freedom of navigation. Among those reasons is that UNCLOS is designed to be applied in times of peace, and when conflict arises, UNCLOS cannot provide all the answers. Given that regulatory vacuum, when there are violations of existing laws, it is the Security Council that must fulfil the role for which it was established. the Council is able to send out clear messages aimed at containing and preventing greater escalation and ensure respect for the United Nations Charter and international law. Having said that, the role of the Council is only a part of the problem, which has many aspects to it. Maritime security must be addressed from the approach of cooperation between naval forces, civilian agencies, regional organizations, multilateral partners, and the private sector. One country cannot deal with this alone, or one agency or one organization cannot deal with it alone, given the multiple threats that freedom of shipping is facing. Colombia welcomes any initiatives aimed at strengthening international cooperation to address maritime challenges, including to strengthen respect for the law of the sea and increase the abilities of developing countries and regional organizations to act in areas such as Latin America and the Caribbean. In that regard, we need to train our armed forces in maritime interdiction procedures to increase their naval capacities, particularly to prevent risks and transfer the necessary knowledge and technology to fight against new threats emanating, for example, from the growing rise and development of artificial intelligence. We must also increase our ability to counter all illegal activities that can endanger the human rights of seafarers. A lot has to be done in this area. And Colombia also feels that we need to have more bilateral and multilateral instruments in our toolbox to deal with drug trafficking by sea, the rights of immigrants as well, and protection of the marine environment must be addressed. And allow me to conclude, Chair, by reiterating the urgent call to all parties in conflict to not use the straits to extend their theatres of operations. They must cease their hostilities and heed the urgent calls of the international community to respect international law and the law of the sea, and particularly prioritise dialogue. This is the only way to solve this and all crises. Thank you very much, Minister.

I would.

Like to thank the representative of Colombia for his statement and give the floor to the representative of France.

New York.

We thank you, Minister, for undertaking the initiative for this meeting, and I would also like to thank the briefers for their contribution. This challenge of protecting freedom of navigation is particularly serious today as water is a subject to repeated attacks and transnational threats and attempt to block them. And we have to react to these dangers which endanger countries and people. And secondly, we are a maritime and a trading country, and we need the freedom of navigation. And finally, countries and economies need to count on the freedom of navigations for their people. So the challenge of protecting freedom of navigation is particularly serious today, as I just said, because waterways are subject to repeated attacks, transnational threats, and attempts to block them. First of all, in Yemen, where is the serious risk that the Houthis are blocking the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and then in Hormuz, with the repeated and imposed closures of the strait in violation of the right of transit passage recognized by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. And finally, in the Black Sea, with a massive attacks by Russia against Ukrainian capacity to export agricultural goods, whether it be strikes on port terminals or direct on civilian ships. Now in addition to these attempts to take international trade hostage, there is an upsurge in piracy, particularly off the Horn of Africa and in the Gulf of Aden. and the activity of criminal groups engaged in various kind of trafficking at sea. And finally, new malicious traffic practices such as Russia's use of shadow fleet in its aggression against Ukraine. This poses a major risk to maritime security and safety, the security of critical infrastructure and maritime ecosystems by failing to comply with any environmental, legal, or security standard. Now, faced with these multiple threats, which, I repeat, affect ally and friendly countries, starting with yours, and our first response must be the defense and respect of the laws and standards. Their security of maritime spaces depends, above all, on their respect for international law. This is defined by the United Nations Convention of the Sea, but also by the relevant Security Council resolutions in which has been dealing with maritime security for a long time. Recently, Resolution 2722 was passed in 2024 on the Red Sea, and Resolution 2817 on 2026, which condemns the obstructions of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. and the implementation of Security Council decisions as a duty for one and all. France would like to emphasize the essential role played by the International Maritime Organization in defining and implementing a legal and normative framework aimed at establishing high common standards, which is essential to guarantee the security of maritime spaces. And finally, our response must also take the form of collective action to ensure maritime security and freedom of navigation. and France is playing its full role in this regard, in particular in the Security Council, but also through its multilateral initiatives and the initiatives on the ground. In the Red Sea, France will continue its commitment to European naval operations such as Aspidis, which is helping to secure commercial traffic in the Red Sea and Atlanta, which is engaged in the fight against piracy off the coasts of Somalia, in accordance with international law and with its partners. In the Strait of Hormuz, we stand ready, when conditions allow, to contribute towards restoring the freedom of navigation through the multinational military mission, which was initiated with the United Kingdom and more than 30 partners. And in the meantime, we are working on this on the Security Council. In the Black Sea, we support efforts to ensure the protection of civilian ships and freers and the unhindered export of grain, which also includes the protection of civilian port infrastructure. And finally, in the Gulf of Guinea, France supports its African partners in their maritime security activities and the fight against illicit activities within the framework of the Yaounde architecture, Mr. Minister. To conclude, freedom of navigation is fundamental. We must work for the security and safety of maritime spaces and waterways, and this requires collective, resolute, and consistent action and strengthening collaboration between the various bodies concerned. And you can count on my country's commitment in this regard. I thank you.

I thank the representative of France for his statement and give the floor to the representative of the DRC.

Thank you, Chair. My delegation thanks the Kingdom of Bahrain for organizing this meeting, and we welcome His Excellency Foreign Affairs Minister of Bahrain, Mr. Dul Atif bin Rashid, and the various speakers. and the representatives of the United Nations organizations. We'd like to thank all speakers for the relevance and the quality of their interventions. Recent developments have shown how the situations are all related and interconnected, and how they can have effects beyond the immediate area. To this, we now see growing changes in the threats. Attacks against ships, piracy, transnational trade. We now have cyber threats and threats to communication and navigation systems. Maritime security, therefore, is no longer a single threat. Chair, the DRC reaffirms its commitment to international law and to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which constitutes the legal framework for maritime areas. And particularly, this covers the issue of transit passage through straits used for international navigation. Unfortunately, we are seeing that the law of the sea is not being respected and the security of navigation is also not being respected. The various resolutions of the Security Council in this regard recall, in each of the contexts, the importance of this situation. In addition to the threat to navigation, we're also seeing political, economic and security effects that are directly affecting stability of supply chains. This reality means that we cannot just look at disruptions at sea, but also look at tension that can proceed or feed into these crises. But whatever the political tensions might be, maritime areas cannot limit, be limited in terms of navigation. They must be preserved in accordance with international law. This is why, to prevent the situation that the DRC believes that greater emphasis should be placed on dialogue, preventive diplomacy, and the pursuit of political solutions. And in parallel to this, we need to strengthen early warning mechanisms, maritime domain awareness, and the rapid and reliable sharing of information and coordination mechanisms among states, the United Nations, the IMO, regional organizations, and the maritime sector. In short, we must be prepared to respond to crises without abandoning the primary ambition of prevention, to create through diplomacy the conditions that will prevent crises from arising. Regional experience offers useful lessons in this regard. We are, however, conscious that the challenges that we face today arise from different dynamics and take new forms. Some mechanisms were designed in contexts in which piracy, trafficking, and maritime crime predominated, while contemporary disruptions may also constitute the extension at sea of broader political and security tensions. This requires an adapted response, but we mustn't just multiply frameworks for cooperation. Much rather, we must ensure that existing frameworks can continue to prevail when tensions escalate. Chair, the consequences of maritime insecurity know no borders. Whether developing or developed countries, all countries remain dependent to varying degrees on the continuity and security of major maritime routes. A disruption can result in higher transport costs. For Africa and developing countries, this very quickly becomes an issue of food security and economic stability, while placing increased pressure on the most vulnerable populations. This interdependence, therefore, requires us to move from an essentially reactive approach towards a genuine culture of prevention and resilience. For the DRC, and according to the vision of the African Union, we first of all must prevent through dialogue. preventive diplomacy, early warning, and the pursuit of political solutions to tensions liable to affect maritime spaces. Second, protect by strengthening the security of vessels and crews, as well as the continuity of humanitarian operations in accordance with international law. And finally, strengthen resilience in order to respond quickly to prolonged or simultaneous disruptions of maritime routes. Chair, in conclusion, maritime security is by its very nature a shared responsibility. It requires, certainly, capabilities, coordination mechanisms, and strengthened international cooperation. But it, above all, requires that even in times of tension, we're able to preserve the instruments of dialogue and cooperation built in times of peace. Maritime diplomacy cannot begin only once navigation has already been compromised for the DRC. Truly, sustainable maritime security can be built at the intersection of law, prevention, cooperation, and diplomacy. I thank you.

I thank the representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the statement. We will now turn to the statements of Member States who are not members of the Council. I give the floor to Mr. Burita. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Morocco, and we thank His Excellency for being present with us today.

I would like to thank my dear brother, His Excellency Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, and through him, I would like to thank the Kingdom of Bahrain for convening this meeting. to recall that other meetings on similar topic were also organized by Bahrain during its presidency of the Security Council. This kind of leadership is no stranger to the Kingdom of Bahrain, which bears in its name a reminder of its position as a crossroads of seas, civilizations, and trade routes. The sea is not a peripheral space, it's an essential infrastructure for our world. And as any basic infrastructure, its security directly determines the security of all those who depend on it. And behind every ship, there are value chains, energy supplies, food, medicines, entire economies. About 90% of global trade is transported by sea. and the value of this maritime trade is related to a number of strategic corridors. Here we have an inevitable paradox. Today, the more important and strategic a sea crossing is, the more fragile it becomes. A danger in a geographically limited area can produce global implications. What happens in a sea lane is no longer just a matter of navigation, but rather an issue that rises to the level of a threat to international peace and security. The Strait of Hormuz crisis has harshly brought us back to a bitter reality. Despite a legal framework, the international community still lacks mechanisms which can prevent crises. and, where appropriate, manage them effectively. And the results of that are well known to one and all. We have about 70% drop in the oil traffic, an incredible rise in global energy prices, about 15 to 25%, disruption of vital supply chains, leaving tens of billions of dollars in losses. And this puts food security of many countries at stake, in particular in Africa and Arab countries. The Houthis are trying to control the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb. And this recalls for us the fact that the straits don't belong to states, any specific states. especially when a non-state actor is beginning to have an impact on this area. And that is why, on behalf of the Kingdom of Morocco, I'd like to express our full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the face of a cowardly attack by the Houthis. All measures that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will take to ensure its security and the security of its people need to be supported. Mr. Chairman, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Morocco is not just a coastal state, it's a maritime nation that we have decided to be. We therefore have a special responsibility when it comes to managing the Straits of Gibraltar between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. It's one of the most important sea crossings in the world. About 100,000 ships pass through the strait each year, about 300 ships a day, or an average of one ship every five minutes. By comparison, navigation through the Strait of Gibraltar is five times that of the Suez Canal, or 11 times that of the Panama Canal, and nearly three times that of the Strait of Hormuz. We think, therefore, the management of the Strait of Gibraltar is not just a national issue. or a way of exerting pressure or blackmailing a country. This is a tool for international cooperation, a means of contributing towards stability and development internationally. And on the basis of this vision, the Kingdom of Morocco calls on all of the countries to agree on a charter, which would be a code of conduct with best practices, including in it, to support the implementation of international law. And so is to avoid any polarization. No one can use these waterways as a means of blackmail. And that is why, once again, in coordination with the Kingdom of Bahrain, we expect to host a forum for this purpose, to discuss this issue. We are convinced that the protection of the freedom of navigation is a major international issue, and we need to come together, all of us, to make sure that seas are a safe space. This means that there is collective responsibility here, that the opening of sea is governed by law. And a sea governed by law is a sea that serves peace, development, and prosperity.

I thank you.

I thank His Excellency, the Minister, for his statement. I now give the floor to His Excellency the Minister of State of the United Arab Emirates, and we thank you for being here with us today. You next, Dr. Al-Dayani.

At the beginning of my statement, I would like to thank you for having convened this very important meeting. And we welcome the efforts made by the brotherly Kingdom of Bahrain, and we thank you for assigning priority to this issue at the Security Council. We also thank the briefers for their statements. Mr. Chairman, the safety of supply chains and international trade The safety of energy is an integral part of international peace and security. Recent developments have shown that any threat can impact food security, fertilizers, and have serious consequences for the world economy. We were all impacted by these disruptions. However, it is the states of the South who pay the higher price here. The World Food Program is of the view that these continued disruptions could lead to food insecurity, acute food security for 540 million people, catastrophic consequences for numerous countries. And the United Arab Emirates, uh, underscore the importance of ensuring supply chains, in particular, energy chains, without additional costs and in line with international law and whilst respecting the sovereignty of states. Indeed, doing otherwise could undermine international law and the rules of conduct among states. In conclusion, the United Arab Emirates reiterate the importance of supporting all efforts which are there to calm the current disruptions and ensuring the stability of the region so that we can arrive at peace and stability for all of our countries. We thank all of these states which support us in this. I thank you.

I thank you, Minister. Portugal now, please.

And I thank the Kingdom of Bahrain for convening this important meeting, and to you, Mr. Minister, to be here with us in this session. I also thank the briefers for their insights. The continuous security escalation around the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea is alarming and confirms the urgency of viable solutions to protect freedom of navigation and maritime security. We believe action is needed at three different levels: first, International law of the sea is a shared responsibility. We emphasize the universal character of the United Nations Conventions on the Law of the Sea that sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the sea must be carried out. Portugal reiterates the need to maintain the integrity of the convention. The protection of commercial shipping and navigational freedom is essential everywhere, especially on critical shipping lanes and choke points, whether on the Strait of Hormuz or the Black Sea. Hence, we must explore all opportunities for dialogue and for diplomacy to ensure freedom of navigation, including safe and toll-free passage, wherever it might be challenged. Second, disruptions of the global economy have severe impact on food and energy security. My country welcomes the UN Secretary General's initiative to establish a technical mechanism in the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea, led by the US Chief Moreira da Silva. This aims to contribute to the regular flow of strategic trade routes and thus fulfilling the humanitarian purpose of ensuring the supply of food energy, and fertilizers. We urge all relevant parties to fully engage with UNOPS efforts to this end. We also greatly value the role of the International Maritime Organization, a member of the SG Task Force, in safeguarding navigation rights and ensuring the safety and welfare of seafarers. Third, regional cooperation and information sharing are crucial. The Atlantic Center, an initiative established by Portugal and comprising almost 30 member states, plays a central role in assessing threats, enhancing maritime security knowledge, and implementing multilateral capacity-building projects in the Atlantic, an experience that can and should be shared in other geographies. So, Mr. Chair, in a fragmented world, The rule of law remains our strongest common language for peace and cooperation. Ultimately, upholding maritime treaty obligations is not only a legal requirement, but a shared responsibility. I thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I thank the distinguished representative of Portugal. I would request Member States to please not exceed three minutes in their statements, and I thank you for your cooperation. I now give the floor to Australia.

Thank you, Chair, and thank you very much indeed for Bahrain to convene this important discussion. So disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman and the Red Sea have all highlighted the vulnerability of critical maritime routes and their direct relevance to international peace and security. Australia condemns Iran's de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, including its attacks against commercial vessels, civilian infrastructure and energy facilities. We also condemn recent Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia and threats to freedom of navigation through the Bab el-Mandab Strait. Safe passage through these vital corridors is critical to global supply chains and energy markets, and we cannot allow them to be weaponised. Australia and the world need freedom of navigation to be restored in the Middle East. We want to see an end to conflict, negotiations between the United States and Iran to resume, and for the Strait of Hormuz and other critical waterways to remain open. With the grave impacts of the Middle East conflict on maritime security unfolding before us, I wish to make three points. First, when critical waterways are closed or threatened, people pay the price. In our region, Pacific Island countries are uniquely exposed to supply chain disruptions, rising fuel costs, and shortages that threaten essential services and food security. Second, the flow of trade that sustains our shared future depends not only on ships and sea lanes, but also on the rules that govern them. Australia will continue to champion the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Navigational rights and freedoms must be respected and disputes must be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law. And third, maritime security challenges transcend national boundaries and cannot be addressed by any state acting alone. We must strengthen practical cooperation, including information sharing, maritime domain awareness, and coordination between states, the multilateral system, and industry. We must also protect commercial shipping and seafarers, who are often among the first affected. As a candidate for the Security Council in 2029-30, Australia will listen, partner and protect people, rules and peace. We will support practical cooperation and respect for international law to safeguard open and secure maritime roads.

I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Australia, and I now give the floor to Singapore.

Thank you very much, Chair. I thank the Kingdom of Bahrain for organising this timely meeting, and I also express my appreciation to the briefers for their valuable contributions. Dear friends, Singapore is an international maritime and shipping hub, and for us, open, safe and secure sea lines of communication are paramount. Freedom of navigation is an existential issue, not only for small states like Singapore, but also for the global community, as more than 80% of the total volume of global trade is transported by sea. Allow me to make three points. First, we must uphold and defend the navigational rights and freedoms founded on international law. At the foundation of this is UNCLOS, which sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out. It is regrettable that recent geopolitical tensions and conflicts have spilled into the maritime domain and jeopardized the safety of commercial shipping and precipitated a global energy and trade crisis. As we seek peaceful resolutions to these conflicts, it is important for all law-abiding States to stand together and defend the clear and categorical position that the right of transit passage through straits used for international navigation is a right enshrined in UNCLOS and in customary international law. States bordering such straits shall not hamper or suspend transit passage and cannot impose tolls or fees for passage. As my Foreign Minister, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, has said previously, and I quote, "There is a right of transit passage. It is not a privilege to be granted by a bordering state. It is not a license to be supplicated for, and it is not at all to be paid." The second point that I wish to make is that any practical arrangements to ensure the safety of critical waterways must be founded on international law and not in any way weaken the foundational framework of the rule of law at sea. Given that these waterways are often bordered by more than one state, it is inevitable that there is a need for international cooperation. One example from my own region is the cooperative mechanism on safety of navigation and environment protection in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. The cooperative mechanism brings together the three littoral states, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, with user states and the shipping industry to keep the straits safe, open, and stable. The mechanism is fully consistent with international law and is the first and only instance of the implementation of Article 43 of UNCLOS, which provides that user States and littoral States should cooperate to establish and maintain navigational and safety aids and pollution control measures in straits used for international navigation. The cooperative mechanism has enabled user States and littoral States to work together on implementing and funding joint projects, including the replacement and maintenance of aids to navigation. And more importantly, such cooperation and contributions are entirely voluntary. They do not constitute mandatory charges for passage, which would be a violation of international law, but are practical cooperation arrangements grounded in UNCLOS. The third point that I wish to make is that the issue of navigational rights and freedoms is not an abstract legal issue, but one that goes to the heart of our shared prosperity and survival as a community of nations. If our sea lanes continue to be blocked or held hostage, there will be disastrous consequences for energy markets, supply chains, and consumer prices around the world. We are already seeing the consequences from the recent events in the Straits of Hormuz reverberating around the world and in many regions. While no country is immune to the impact of these consequences, the reality is that there is a disproportionate impact on the smallest countries, especially developing countries and small island developing states. Our collective interest is therefore clear and the stakes are high for all of us. We must uphold international law and act collectively to address critical maritime security challenges to keep our oceans safe, secure and open for the well-being of all our people and all our nations. I thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Singapore. And I now give the floor to the State of Qatar. Madam, you have the floor.

Dr. Abdullatif Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain, we thank you and we express our appreciation for convening this meeting on a matter of great importance to Member States. We also thank the distinguished briefers for their valuable contributions. Mr. President. Our meeting takes place at a time when challenges to the safety of international waterways and freedom of navigation are increasing. The events of this year demonstrate that insecurity in maritime corridors have direct consequences for international peace and security and the global economy. They underscore the importance of strengthening cooperation and coordination among Member States and international and regional organizations in order to address emerging challenges in accordance with international law and to advance common interests, including the protection of commercial vessels and seafarers. Developments in the Strait of Hormuz have illustrated how threats to freedom of navigation in a maritime passage can have consequences extending far beyond the immediate region, threatening food and energy security, global supply chains, and humanitarian operations while affecting the global economy and international trade. Developing countries and import-dependent nations often bear the greatest burden. The State of Qatar has strongly condemned attacks against commercial vessels, including the targeting by the Islamic Republic of Iran earlier this September of the Saudi tanker Sidr while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz, which resulted in fatalities among the tanker's crew. Qatar considers this a flagrant violation of international law and freedom of maritime navigation and a blatant breach of Security Council Resolution 2817. The State of Qatar also condemned in the strongest terms last week the continued targeting of commercial vessels in the Red Sea by the Houthi militias and the threats posed to the security, safety, and freedom of international maritime navigation. Qatar likewise condemned the group's attacks on civilian and economic sites in Abha, Khamsim, Sheita, Jazan, and Najran in the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These attacks resulted in injuries to a number of civilians, including women and children. Qatar affirms that these attacks constitute reprehensible aggressive conduct and an unacceptable disregard for civilian lives and the security of countries in the region. They are a blatant violation of the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and of international law and a dangerous escalation that threatens regional security and stability. Mr. President, the position of the State of Qatar is clear with regard to international navigation. It affirms that ensuring the freedom and security of navigation in international waterways is a fundamental principle of international law, guaranteed by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Qatar stresses the importance of ensuring the security of maritime corridors and the freedom of navigation and international trade in accordance with international law. Qatar emphasizes the importance of implementing Security Council Resolution 2817, which affirmed the need to respect the rights and freedoms of navigation of commercial and transport vessels, and stated that any attempt to obstruct lawful transit, passage, or freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz or Bab al-Mandab constitutes a serious threat to international peace and security. The State of Qatar reiterates its categorical rejection of the use of the Strait of Hormuz as a tool to exert pressure and we call for reopening it without any conditions. We further affirm that the freedom of navigation through this vital waterway is an established principle that is not subject to negotiation and that the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz endangers the vital interests of countries in the region and the global economy. We stress that any future arrangements concerning the management of the Strait or other related issues should be based on regional consensus and the full respect for international law in a manner that preserves regional security and stability. The state of Qatar's priority remains containing the escalation and creating space for diplomatic efforts. As a contributing party to mediation efforts, Qatar will continue to strive to open -- reopen the straits as quickly as possible based on the conviction that the peaceful settlement of disputes and adherence to dialogue, international law, and the principles of good neighborliness are the fundamental pillars of resolving crises and avoiding their repercussions. Qatar will remain committed to strengthening international cooperation in the maritime field and supporting the International Maritime Organization. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Qatar. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

I thank you, Mr. President. In the name of God, the most merciful, the most gracious, at the outset, I'd like to express my appreciation to the sisterly Kingdom of Bahrain for organizing this important meeting. The security of seas and international waterways and the freedom of navigation within them constitute a fundamental pillar of international and regional security and stability. They are an indispensable element for the stability of the global economy, the sustainability of development, and the well-being of peoples. Here, we stress the importance of adherence to relevant international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. we call for respect for the freedom of navigation and safe passage and ensuring that International Maritime routes including or especially the straight of heros babel mand and the Red Sea the importance of them remaining open secure and free from threats while respecting the sovereignty of states their sovereign rights and their jurisdiction in accordance with international law the importance of these waterways extends beyond trade and energy supplies it directly affects the lives of peoples and their security and their prosperity because through these waterways food grains medicines medical supplies and fertilizers and agricultural inputs and raw materials and essential Commodities anti-humanitarian assistance and other Necessities needed by millions of people around the world are transported therefore Any disruption to supply chains and the increase in the shipping costs does not simply affect ports. Rather, it is felt by the different, by the farms and the factories and the markets, ultimately affecting consumers and families, especially in developing countries and those most vulnerable to economic and food-related challenges. The same applies to the delivery of medicines and essential supplies and humanitarian assistance. Therefore, protecting maritime corridors is not merely a security or economic issue. It's a matter of development, of food security, of humanitarian action, and of social stability. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, recent developments have demonstrated that a threat that affects a single maritime route could have repercussions that extend far beyond its geographic boundaries. Its consequences could spread through an interconnected network of waterways, markets, and global supply chains. Therefore, the Kingdom condemns the attacks and the threats that target commercial vessels or endanger the safety and security of maritime routes, and we affirm our rejection of any attempts to impede the freedom of navigation or using it as a tool for pressure or escalation. Moreover, the evolving nature of maritime threats, including the use of unmanned systems, advanced technologies, cyber threats, and interference with navigation and communication systems requires us to develop tools for international cooperation and response in a manner that is able to match the nature of these risks. The Kingdom underscores the importance of enhancing information sharing of early warning systems and maritime domain awareness to improve coordination and incident response. We call for strengthening the capacities of littoral states and supporting cooperation among states, the United Nations, IMO, regional organizations, and the maritime sector. Mr. President, the Kingdom, considering its geographical location and recognizing the importance of maritime corridor security for regional and international security, the Kingdom will continue to support efforts aimed at strengthening navigation security and safeguarding maritime routes. In closing, it is important to reaffirm that the security of maritime corridors is a shared interest and responsibility of the entire international community. Ensuring that they remain open and secure requires cooperation that is international, serious, and sustained. It requires respect for international law, strength and prevention, coordination, response, and accountability. Ultimately, protecting maritime routes means protecting food chains and medical supply chains, sustaining trade, sustaining development, and safeguarding the interests of people in security, stability, and prosperity. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Malta, followed by Timor-Leste, then Germany, then Japan.

Malta.

Malta, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The outset I will start by expressing our gratitude to the Kingdom of Bahrain and to Minister zani for convening this meeting and to the briefers for their insights chair Maritime security is not an abstract concern nor confined to Coastal regions and security across critical Maritime routes carries implications for stability trade and socioeconomic well-being allow me to emphasize three points first We must recall the integrity of the legal order established by UNCLOS. As the constitution for the oceans, UNCLOS sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out. It represents a carefully crafted package of rights and obligations that must be applied holistically. Freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law and the cornerstone of peace, stability, and predictability. Malta welcomed the Security Council's adoption of Resolution 2817. Its provisions must now be operationalized through international coordination so that transit passage through international straits may be restored under UNCLOS and customary international law. Second, the protection of seafarers and commercial shipping. Merchant vessels and their crews constitute civilian objects and civilians under international law and must never be targeted. Recent incidents, including those on Malta-flagged vessels in the Black Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, have underscored the risks that hostilities pose to commercial shipping and seafarers. We strongly condemn such attacks, including against vessels lawfully exercising transit passage. Recent experience demonstrates the need for operational arrangements for evacuation, repatriation, crew changes, and access to medical and humanitarian assistance. Third, preparedness and coordination. Insecurity affecting one critical maritime route can generate cascading consequences across interconnected sea lanes and global supply chains. These disruptions across critical waterways demonstrate the limitations of ad hoc responses. We support strengthened maritime domain awareness, trusted information sharing, early warning mechanisms, and arrangements capable of rapidly coordinating the United Nations, the IMO, regional organizations, member states, and the industry. Mr. Chair, effective implementation of Security Council Resolution 2817 in accordance with international law and UNCLOS requires sustained engagement among the United Nations, the IMO, regional organizations, member states, and stakeholders. No single actor can address these challenges alone. Our collective objective should be to ensure that the tools, mandates, and expertise across the international system operate in a mutually reinforcing and coordinated manner. In an interconnected maritime environment, collective preparedness, practical cooperation and shared responsibility remain our best safeguards for secure, open and resilient seas. I thank you.

I thank the permanent...

I thank Malta and I give the floor to Timor-Leste.

Chair, Excellencies, distinguished briefers.

Timor-Leste thanks Bahrain for convening this discussion and the briefers for their valuable insights. For a coastal state like Timor-Leste, the sea connects our people to markets, essential supplies and opportunities for development. Protecting freedom of navigation is therefore inseparable from safeguarding our security and our community's well-being. Attacks on commercial shipping, interference of navigation systems, and threats to seafarer endangered lives and undermine international peace and security. Their consequences extend beyond the waters concerned, disrupting trade, food and energy supplies, and humanitarian operations. Seafarers must never become targets or beginning instruments. As a small island developing state, Timor-Leste depends on reliable maritime connection. Disruption in distant waterways reaches our shores through higher freight costs, rising food and fuel prices, and delayed deliveries. With limited resources and few alternative supply routes, these pressures weigh heavily on households and national development. Our response must remain anchored in international law.

UNCLOS establishes the legal framework governing activities at sea.

Navigational rights and freedoms must be respected alongside coastal states' rights and the obligations concerning their exercise. Where transit passage applies, it must not be hampered or suspended. Responses must comply with international law, including the United Nations Charter and, where applicable, international humanitarian law.

The resolution.

Our maritime disputes with our neighbors demonstrate the value of peaceful dispute settlement under UNCLOS. It reinforces our conviction that dialogue and international law provide practical pathways to security and cooperation. Excellency, Timor-Leste emphasizes three priorities.

First, on prevention and protection.

States, the International Maritime Organization, regional organizations, and industry should strengthen verified warnings.

Emergency contacts and operational information sharing.

Crews need practical contingency plans, training and secure communications. Protective arrangements must have a clear legal basis and safeguards against escalation.

Second, on credible reporting and accountability, we believe that relevant actors should preserve evidence and share verified information appropriately.

Investigations must be partial and evidence-based. with attribution supported where needed for forensic, legal, and technical assistance. Third, on capacity and resilience, developing coastal states need predictable support to monitor their waters, protect ports and maritime infrastructure, strengthen cyber resilience, and respond to emergencies. Assistance must reflect national priorities and include training, maintenance, and sustained operational resources. Excellencies, the seas connect our economies and our futures. We encourage the Chair to reflect these priorities in its summary and support practical follow-up that protects seafarers and keeps maritime routes safe, open, and resilient.

Thank you.

I thank the Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste for this statement, and I'll give the floor to the Permanent Representative of Germany.

Thank you, President. Thank you to the briefers for the valuable input, and thank you for convening this meeting today, because indeed, our maritime security requires a collective attention. Freedom of the seas is a lifeline of our interconnected global economy. Others have said so, but I would like to underline as well. Maritime disruptions have devastating consequences on trade, food and energy security and stability that reach far beyond the region. And the conflicts in the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea and around the Black Sea are testimony to that, and they underline that the law of the sea needs to be upheld. Maritime security must be based on international law and on the principles of navigational rights and freedom. By threatening and attacking international commercial shipping, Iran is violating international law. Just as the Houthis are doing in the Bab al-Mandab. And with its shadow fleet, Russia continues to misuse the right of peaceful transit, to attack sea cables, to engage in espionage, and it risks massive accidents and environmental damage. So what are we to do in light of these conflicts? A few points. One, the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea provides the international legal framework for all activities in the oceans and seas, and we need to uphold it and strengthen it. Secondly, we need to restore and preserve navigational rights and freedom in the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab al-Mandab, and elsewhere. Thirdly, we need both effective protection for ships and seafarers, and we need accountability for attacks when they happen and for unlawful interference with commercial shipping in order to prevent choke points being used as leverage against our economies. And fourth, these conflicts also remind us to strengthen early warning and coordination among states, the UN, regional organizations, and maritime industry. And I think all of us can do things concretely, and we need to think about what we can do. Just by ways of example, Germany is fully committed by, for example, supporting the EU naval force mission, ESDAS. where we contribute to the protection of international shipping in the Red Sea and adjacent waters, through support of IRINI and UNIFIL. We support maritime security in the Mediterranean, in line with UN Security Council resolutions. And we support the EU's initiative on the protection of critical maritime infrastructure that has been launched by High Representative Kallas at the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum last year. We support a number of further regional initiatives, particularly through the G7+ Friends of the Gulf of Guinea platform and in cooperation with IMO and UNITAR. Just to mention this, that there are ways to secure our waterways, to strengthen maritime security if we act collectively, and I want to ensure you that Germany will remain a steady contributor substantially and concretely to maritime security. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished permanent representative of Germany. I now give the floor to the distinguished permanent representative of Japan, followed by the permanent representative of India, then Bulgaria, then Argentina. Japan.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are grateful for the convening of this meeting on a matter that could not be more timely. As a maritime nation, Japan strongly emphasizes freedom of navigation stipulated in UNCLOS is an integral pillar of international order based on the rule of law. This is especially true in the strategically locally transit routes that serves as lifelines for global commerce. In this regard, we thank today's briefers for providing us with up-to-date reports on the situation regarding the Straits of Hormuz and Strait of Bab el-Mandeb. Japan is deeply concerned that the insecurity in these strategic sea lanes is having far-reaching implications for global energy and food security. It is of utmost importance to restore free and safe navigation through the straits as soon as possible. I should also stress that transit through strait of Hormuz without any additional costs must be ensured, as has previously been the case. The future of this vital waterway should be discussed among all stakeholders, including littoral states, states using the strait, and the International Maritime Organization. The discussion must be conducted in accordance with international law, as reflected in UNCLOS. We are also increasingly concerned the recent attacks by the Houthis are destabilizing the entire region, including Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea. Any attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as any action that impedes the free and safe navigation of vessels, can never be tolerated and must cease immediately. In conclusion, Japan will continue to diplomatic efforts in close coordination with the international community to safeguard the navigational rights and freedoms for all. I thank you.

I thank the Permanent Representative of Japan and I'll give the floor to the Permanent Representative of India.

Thank you, Chair. India thanks the Kingdom of Bahrain for convening this Area Formula meeting. We also thank the briefers for their remarks on this important issue. Chair, recent disruptions to significant global maritime routes have underpinned a fundamental reality. The security of maritime routes are vital to international peace, security, and global prosperity. It has implications across regions of the globe, particularly in terms of energy and food security. India is a major maritime nation, and we strongly support a free, open, secure, and rules-based maritime domain. Rights and freedoms of navigation and overflight should be consistent with international law, including United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which must be fully respected. Commercial vessels must not become targets of geopolitical tensions. Navigational rights must not be subjected to coercion, threats, unlawful restrictions, or arbitrary interference. Equally vital are coordinated evacuation frameworks for seafarers. in conflict zones with clear responsibilities among states and international organizations. The recent experience also demonstrates that maritime insecurity has consequences well beyond the immediate threat. Disruptions at one choke point can increase pressure on alternative routes, raise the freight and insurance costs, disrupt energy and food supplies, and adversely affect developing countries. The international community must therefore move beyond responding to individual incidents by crafting practical arrangements to facilitate the continued movement of essential commercial and humanitarian supplies during crisis situations. India has been contributing in a sustained manner for maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region. As on 14th September of this year, continued maritime security operations in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea have ensured safe transit to more than 449 merchant vessels, carrying nearly 20.3 million metric tons of cargo and oil worth more than $8.4 billion. Consequent to deterioration of the security situation in West Asia, the Indian Navy has launched Operation Urja Suraksha and by 13th of March of this year, 11 Indian Navy units were mission deployed in the Western Arabian Sea for protection of trade. India believes that existing mechanisms should be better coordinated with due respect for sovereignty and jurisdiction of coastal states. In this regard, we would like to highlight that the Information Fusion Center of the Indian Ocean Region has been a useful platform for developing maritime domain awareness. We are happy to know that India's IFCIOR is now included as a reporting center in the IMO Best Management Practices Maritime Security. We would seek the kind support of concerned states as we propose addition of IFC-IOR in the IMO Maritime Safety Committee Resolution 324, as it would greatly enhance global maritime security. Seafarers must remain at the center of our collective efforts. Their safety, timely evacuation, medical assistance, crew changes, and repatriation require effective contingency planning and international cooperation. Their safety and security require much greater attention in the present circumstances. Countries with considerable interest in terms of safety and security of shipping and seafarers must come together. Chair, India also recognizes the growing importance of addressing emerging threats, including attacks involving unmanned systems, cyber risks, and interference with navigation and communications. International cooperation, capacity building, and responsible use of technology will be critical in addressing these challenges. Chair, the objective should not merely be to restore navigation after a crisis, but to build a maritime system capable of withstanding shocks before they cascade into wider economic and humanitarian crisis. India stands ready to work constructively with member states to strengthen maritime security, protect seafarers, uphold navigational freedoms, and ensure resilient and uninterrupted international commerce. Thank you, Chair.

I thank the permanent representative of India. I now give the floor to the permanent representative of Bulgaria.

Thank you, Chair. I would like to begin by thanking the Kingdom of Bahrain for organizing today's meeting at this critical juncture for the global maritime security. Bulgaria aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the EU. As a Black Sea littoral state, Bulgaria has a direct national interest in freedom of navigation and maritime security. Resilient maritime routes are essential not only for security, but also for regional and global economic connectivity. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Red Sea, as well as in the Black Sea, demonstrate that maritime insecurity can have global consequences affecting energy security, trade and supply chains beyond the immediate regions. Against this background, Bulgaria supports coordinated international efforts to safeguard commercial shipping, freedom of navigation and navigational rights, including transit passage through straits used for international navigation, as well as relevant EU maritime security engagements in full accordance with international law and UNCLOS. Any attempt to impose unlawful restrictions on international maritime routes should be rejected. President, Bulgaria firmly supports freedom of navigation and navigational rights, including transit passage through straits used for international navigation in accordance with international law and UNCLOS. Any attacks against-- sorry. Maritime security measures should contribute to de-escalation and regional stability while fully respecting international law. Bulgaria remains fully committed to diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing further regional confrontation and resolving disputes through dialogue and peaceful means. I thank you, Chairman.

I thank the permanent representative of Bulgaria. And I would like to remind the Member States to kindly observe that their statements do not exceed three minutes. And I would like to inform you that the Secretariat and the interpreters have agreed to stay with us here until 6:15, and we thank them for that. Should there not be enough time to exhaust the speakers list, we ask the delegations that were unable to speak to send us the text of their statements so that they could be included in the chair's summary. I now give the floor to the permanent representative of Argentina, followed by Albania, then Spain, then Italy. Argentina.

Mr. Ambassador, Mr. Foreign Affairs, I'd like to thank Bahrain for this initiative, giving us the chance to reflect again on something that affects us all, namely the security of maritime corridors. the ocean brings together much more than it separates. It provides us with food, with energy, but also it's an essential part of world prosperity. And that's why when a strategic maritime corridor is threatened, it not only breaks a route, it halts food and supplies. and it leads to uncertainty much further than the area where it's taking place. And therefore, our response must be clear, cooperation between states, predictability of action, and full respect for international law. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is the fundamental legal framework within which all activities on the oceans and seas must be carried out. Within that framework, we should remember that blocking maritime traffic through an international strait by a coastal state constitutes a violation of international law. In accordance with UNCLOS, the right of transit and passage must be guaranteed and never hindered. This conviction led us to co-sponsor the Security Council resolution condemning Iran for its actions threatening international trade and passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Maritime security also has a very human dimension to it. Behind every vessel, there is a team. Behind every cargo, there's a supply chain. And behind every delay, there could be fuel, food, or goods that are essential and waiting to arrive at their destination. Protecting shipping is also protecting life, economies, and the marine environment. The current challenges also present new dimensions, namely the use of unmanned aerial vehicles and interference with navigation and communication systems can all increase risks for commercial shipping and for the security of seafarers. As part of this effort, the IMO has a central role to play in the exchange of information, leading to giving us greater awareness of what's happening in the marine environment and the importance for the responsible use of new technologies. All of that can help to strengthen shipping, but Technology complements the rules and does not replace the rules. Maritime security requires cooperation, responsibility, and respect for international law. It also requires the international community to act in a coordinated manner in the face of threats, which, although they're occurring in a given region, have global effects. Chair, the seas must continue to be a place of meeting and not coercion. Maritime security needs open routes, strengthened cooperation, and the preservation of an international rules-based order. Thank you.

I thank the Permanent Representative of Argentina. I now give the floor to the Permanent Representative of Albania.

Albania joined the EU, but we would like to make a few points on national capacity. Mr. Chair, Albania thanks the Kingdom of Bahrain for convening this important and timely discussion. Recent developments in the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, and the Bab al-Mandab have once again demonstrated that maritime security is inseparable from international peace and security. Disruption to critical maritime routes do not remain local. They affect international trade, energy, and food security, humanitarian operations, and global supply chains. Recent developments in and around Yemen further demonstrate how instability on land can quickly translate into risks at sea. For Albania, a coastal country with a strategic position on the Adriatic the Mediterranean and the Ionian Seas, maritime security is a matter of direct national and regional importance. Our experience remind us that safe and open seas are essential for connectivity, economic development, and security of our communities. The principle is clear. Freedom of navigation must be respected and international law upheld. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea remains a fundamental framework for the peaceful use of the seas and oceans. Commercial shipping, must be able to operate without unlawful interference, and the safety of seafarers must be protected. Those who work at sea should never become the human cost of conflicts in which they have no part. Albania stands in solidarity with the countries of the Gulf and supports their efforts to safeguard the security, stability, and freedom of navigation in their region. The sovereignty and territorial integrity of states must be respected, and threats to their people, infrastructure, and maritime routes must be addressed in accordance with international law. Mr. Chair, maritime security also requires preparedness and cooperation. We should strengthen information sharing and early warning mechanisms, improve preparedness for disruptions, and enhance coordination among member states, the United Nations, the International Maritime Organization, regional organizations, and the maritime sector. But measures must go hand in hand with diplomacy. The escalation dialogue and diplomacy remain essential to preventing regional tensions from generating wider threats to international peace and security. The United Nations has an important role to play in supporting these efforts alongside the International Maritime Organization and the relevant regional and international partners. Mr. Chair, for Albania, the priorities are clear: protect freedom of navigation, uphold international laws, support the security and stability of the Gulf countries, protect commercial shipping and sea affairs, and strengthen the resilience of critical maritime routes. We stand ready to contribute to international efforts to keep our seas secure, our maritime routes open, and our shared commitment to international peace and security strong. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Albania, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Spain, followed by Italy, then the EU. Spain.

Thank you very much, Chair. Spain would like to join in the EU statement and we'd like to make some comments in our national capacity. We'd like to thank the Kingdom of Bahrain for convening this meeting on maritime security and in particular focusing on the need to protect freedom of navigation at a time when it's under particular threat. Protecting maritime routes is a central issue for the maintenance of peace and security as well as for economic security. Current crises in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab show the vulnerability of these routes and the importance of greater international cooperation to address the disruptive consequences affecting international trade, energy security, and global supply chains. Spain reiterates its solidarity with the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council in the face of Iran's unjustified and unacceptable attacks against the region. We continue to demand respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity in full compliance with the provisions of the UN Charter and international law. We continue to call on the parties to return to negotiations with a view to achieving a political, sustainable and lasting solution that guarantees regional stability and security. is therefore crucial to preserve an international framework governing freedom of navigation in accordance with international law, because it's that framework that has facilitated progress, peace, and stability for all without discrimination. Likewise, de-escalation, dialogue, and respect for international law remain indispensable tools for preserving the stability of strategic maritime routes. Spain advocates responses based on an integrated approach Given this situation, we stress that international law is the cornerstone of action in the maritime domain, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Security Council has reaffirmed that the exercise of navigational rights and freedoms by merchant and commercial vessels in accordance with international law must be respected and that transit must continue unimpeded, as recalled in resolution 2722, and in particular with regard to critical maritime routes as established in resolution 2817. We call for their strict implementation. Spain supports effective multilateralism with the UN and the IMO at its core, and we advocate greater diplomatic action. The protection of freedom of navigation must rest on lasting political and diplomatic solutions based on international cooperation. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Spain. I now give the floor to Italy.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. We thank the Kingdom of Bahrain for convening this meeting. And of course, we align ourselves to the statement to be delivered by the European Union. And we had some further remarks in national capacity. Maritime threats pose significant challenges, not just to coastal states and local communities, but also to the international community as a whole. The breadth of these threats, especially those affecting critical maritime routes, is growing so much that it has become one of the main drivers of global instability. The increasing disruptions to commercial shipping, notably in the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, the Gulf of Oman, and the Red Sea, in blatant violation of international law, are a stark reminder of the fundamental importance of maritime communication routes for the international economy and, ultimately, for international peace and security. Accordingly, it is in the interest of every state to commit to ensuring the full application of the principle of freedom of navigation and under safe conditions for maritime personnel. Mr. President, Italy reiterates its solidarity towards the Gulf countries affected by unacceptable retaliatory strikes. In particular, while condemning in the strongest possible terms the recent Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia and against the legitimate Yemeni government, Italy expresses the urgency of putting an end to hostilities and to preserve the freedom and safety of navigation in the Red Sea and through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Italy, including through EU NAVFOR ASPIDES, will continue to do its part to safeguard freedom of navigation and contribute to maritime safety and the stability of the region. At the same time, Italy stresses once again the need for collective action to ensure universal compliance with the relevant international norms. UNCLOS remains the fundamental legal framework for maritime rights and obligations, including those related to maritime security. In the same vein, we are affirming the Security Council's primary responsibility in addressing challenges to maritime security capable of disrupting global navigation and trade, damaging critical infrastructures and destabilizing regional stability. Building on the legal foundation provided by the Charter of the United Nations, UNCLOS and other key conventions, the Security Council can promote the adoption of legal norms and resolutions, address regional crises involving critical sea passages and choke points, authorize actions against maritime threats such as piracy, terrorism and various illicit activities. While the Security Council can offer guidance to resolve any disputes or disagreements with regard to maritime security and address threats to the freedom of navigation, its effective implementation rests on Member States' willingness and commitment. Italy has been supporting international efforts against any threat to maritime security and stands ready to contribute to collective efforts, concerted with regional and international partners and defensive in nature, to safeguard the freedom of navigation and to preserve the stability of the global markets in the Gulf, the Straits of Hormuz, the Red Sea and elsewhere. We will remain steadfast in our commitment to upholding freedom of navigation globally and reinforcing the law of the sea. I thank you.

I thank.

The distinguished representative of Italy, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the European Union.

Thank you, Mr. President. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states. The candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Monaco, align themselves with this statement. Let me begin by thanking you, Mr. President, and the Kingdom of Bahrain for convening this meeting, and of course the briefers for their contributions. As President von der Leyen underlined in yesterday's State of the Union address, disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has had direct consequences for Europe's energy security and economy. with imported fossil fuels costing Europe an additional 90 billion since the start of the conflict. This was a stark reminder, if any were needed, that disruption to the strategic maritime routes has consequences far beyond the region. The EU recalls the universal and unified character of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, as many others have in this room, which sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out. We reiterate the need to maintain the integrity of the Convention. Preserving a stable and open international maritime order based on the rule of law and international law is both a legal obligation and a shared global interest. In this context, on the Strait of Hormuz, the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council reaffirmed together in Brussels on 13 July that freedom of navigation, including the right of passage through the Strait, is guaranteed under international law as reflected in UNCLOS. These rights belong to the ships of all states and cannot be suspended, impeded, or made conditional by any state. Passage cannot be subject to permits, transit tolls, or general service fees, discrimination, or unlawful authorization requirements. Introducing restrictions, conditions, discriminatory measures, or other obstacles to lawful passage through international straits would be patently illegal and set a dangerous precedent for global strategic waterways. The European Council has called for the full implementation of UNSC Resolution 2817 and condemned any acts that threaten navigation or prevent vessels from entering and exiting the Strait. President, the EU is also seriously concerned by the dangerous escalation around Bab el-Mandeb. Houthi attacks and threats against Saudi Arabia and Saudi-linked vessels have reduced the overall number of ships transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. We recall UN Security Council Resolution 2722, which demands that the Houthis immediately cease all attacks on merchant and commercial vessels. President, another major choke point for freedom of navigation is the Black Sea. Russia has intensified attacks against ports and commercial shipping. including drone and missile attacks against oil tankers, resulting in multiple deaths of seafarers, together with systematic strikes against inland logistics, warehouses, and grain terminals, in violation of international law, including UNCLOS. This recent escalation is severely disrupting freedom of navigation, global energy, and food supply chains, risking global hunger. This is unacceptable. Chair, The EU will continue to work within and support international and regional institutions responsible for maritime governance, safety and security, particularly the International Maritime Organization. The EU also supports and promotes regional cooperation for maritime security. Finally, President, diplomacy remains essential to resolving outstanding issues, so in closing, We wish to commend regional partners for the mediation efforts. The full statement will be published online. Thank you, Mr. President. I.

Thank the distinguished representative of the European Union, and I'll give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Netherlands.

Thank you, Mr. President, and I must start by showing my appreciation for allowing us to speak at this hour of the day. These are long days. The Kingdom of the Netherlands aligns itself with the statement just made by my colleague of the European Union. The freedom of navigation has been key policy priority for the Kingdom of the Netherlands for over four centuries. Freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law, including under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, UNCLOS. Working together to maintain free and safe seas has become increasingly crucial in our modern, globalised world. In this regard, I would like to make three points. Firstly, on the Strait of Hormuz. The Kingdom of the Netherlands condemns in the strongest terms the inexcusable attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces. We call on Iran to immediately cease its threats, laying of mines, drone and missile attacks, and other attempts to obstruct commercial shipping through the Strait. We call upon Iran to comply with Resolution 2817 and to respect the sovereign territorial waters of other littoral states, including those of the Sultanate of Oman. Moreover, we reject any post-conflict arrangements which include tolls or other restrictive mechanisms not in full accordance with international law as reflected in UNCLOS. Any potential post-conflict mechanism of internationalisation should be cognisant of the legitimate interests of all littoral states. Secondly, on the Red Sea, the Kingdom of the Netherlands strongly condemns similar attempts of the Houthis to obstruct shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab through drone and missile attacks on commercial vessels. Thirdly, on the need for diplomacy, the Kingdom of the Netherlands commends all those who are working tirelessly towards a diplomatic solution to restore the freedom of navigation. In particular, we welcome the efforts of the Sultanate of Oman and the State of Qatar. In conclusion, the urgent reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with unconditional and unrestricted freedom of navigation is essential. The Kingdom of the Netherlands continues to believe in a diplomatic solution and is committed to play its part in achieving this. This includes our intention to participate in the multinational military mission for the Strait of Hormuz, a defensive military mission to reassure commercial shipping and conduct mine clearance operations once the situation allows it. I thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Netherlands for her statement. We have thus heard the last speaker in our session today. And I would like to express my sincere apologies to those delegations that we were unable to listen to because of the time constraints, I do hope that delegations that were unable to take the floor, we hope that they could send us their texts so that we could include them in the President's summary of this meeting, this important meeting, and allow me to make a few concluding observations on our meeting today. Our discussions today have reaffirmed that the security of vital waterways is a joint responsibility. The threats that are posed to the Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, the Gulf of Oman, and the Red Sea have repercussions that go far beyond the vessels and the areas that are directly affected. Their repercussions extend to the international energy markets and international food supply chains, as well as humanitarian aid and the global economy as a whole. Our discussions today have affirmed the need to move from acknowledging these risks to enhancing our collective ability to confront them through preserving the rights and freedoms of navigation and improving the exchange of information and early warning systems. and guaranteeing accountability for these attacks and the illegitimate interference in international navigation. The Kingdom of Bahrain looks forward to continuing these conversations and these discussions with member states, the United Nations, and international and regional organizations of relevance, as well as other stakeholders in the maritime sector, so that we could make progress in taking practical measures to protect vital maritime routes and enhance their resilience. And to follow up on today's meeting, the Kingdom of Bahrain will prepare and distribute a summary of the President that would reflect the most salient points and views that were made and the practical suggestions that were made this afternoon. We hope that this summary would contribute towards continuing this important discussion and dialogue and be an important foundation for further consideration of these important and vital issues in relevant international fora. I renew my thanks to the briefers for their valuable contributions today. And I would like to express my thanks to all the participating delegations for their valuable contributions. Allow me to thank the interpretation department for their patience and their perseverance. And I thank all our colleagues who have helped facilitate this meeting. I thank everyone. The meeting is adjourned.