S/PV.9977 Security Council

Before each member is a list of speakers who have requested to participate in accordance with rules 37 and 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure. I propose that they be invited to participate in this meeting. There being no objection, it is so decided. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to draw the attention of Council members to document S/2025/483, which contains the text of a letter dated 23 July 2025 from the Permanent Representative of Panama to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting a concept note on the item under consideration. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Mr. Arsenio Domínguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization; Mr. Ricaurte Vásquez Morales, Chief Executive Officer of the Panama Canal Authority; and Mr. Valdecy Urquiza, Secretary General of INTERPOL. I now give the floor to Mr. Domínguez. Mr. Domínguez: I am grateful for this kind invitation and for the opportunity to address the Council on this important issue related to maritime security. Shipping is one of the great enablers of the global economy. Despite geopolitical tensions and the recent pandemic, shipping has proven remarkably resilient — moving over 12.3 billion tons of goods in 2024, with a workforce of just 1.9 million seafarers keeping global trade afloat. Yet resilience cannot breed complacency. The safety and security of the maritime sector is fundamental to economic stability, sustainable maritime development and livelihoods. Threats to shipping are ever present. In 2024 alone, nearly 150 incidents of piracy and armed robbery were reported — with highest numbers reported in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, the Indian Ocean and West Africa. These attacks jeopardize vessels and cargo, the lives of seafarers and the integrity of global trade. Security threats go beyond piracy. Unlawful attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea Area violate international law and freedom of navigation. The shipping industry continues to face growing challenges such as cyberattacks, drug trafficking and fraudulent activities, which threaten to undermine the established flag State and port State regime that should guarantee that every ship and every journey remains safe and secure. I am grateful for the support of the Security Council in recognizing the seriousness of this matter. I am grateful, in particular, for the Council resolutions that call for an immediate cessation of attacks on international shipping and require continued monitoring of the situation. In these resolutions, the Security Council recognizes the importance of seafarers and maritime security and its essential maintenance for the stability of global supply chains and sustainable economic development. Over more than two decades, the IMO’s capacity-development projects have been instrumental in building and boosting regional capacity to address maritime security threats, with a focus on establishing and implementing information-sharing and cooperative arrangements. Successful frameworks include the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia; the Djibouti Code of Conduct concerning the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, and its Jeddah Amendment; and the Yaoundé Code of Conduct concerning the Repression of Piracy, Armed Robbery against Ships and Illicit Maritime Activity in West and Central Africa. The recent IMO Maritime Safety Committee resolution, adopted in June, further encouraged “maritime information-sharing through the use of national and regional maritime information-sharing centres to enhance maritime safety and security” — a step forward in addressing organized crime and bolstering situational awareness. Partnerships with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, INTERPOL and regional entities, as well as generous donor States, support the IMO-led execution of projects that help recipient States to strengthen national capabilities and build regional trust. These include the Safe Seas Africa programme, the Crisis Response Project for the Red Sea and the Western Indian Ocean, the Ports Security and Safety of Navigation Programme for Eastern Africa, Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean, the Regional Programme for Maritime Security in the Red Sea Area and the Boosting Implementation of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct Project. A common thread is support for strengthened national maritime governance with a whole-of-Government approach and inter-agency coordination, compliance with global maritime standards and regional information-sharing. We also rely on, and are grateful for, the continued support of international and regional naval forces in monitoring the seas and responding to incidents. Emerging technologies — from surveillance driven by artificial intelligence to satellite monitoring systems — offer unprecedented tools to anticipate and deter threats. But with opportunity comes risk. The digitalization of shipping and the move towards autonomous vessels underscores the urgency of robust cybersecurity governance. While addressing maritime security, we must not lose sight of our responsibility to protect the ocean. Maritime safety and security and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. Support for countries to develop and enhance response capabilities for maritime pollution incidents, including from oil spills, is ongoing. The IMO continues to advance regulations to address environmental threats, supported by a series of major projects addressing shipping decarbonization; marine plastic litter; biofouling, which can result in invasive aquatic species that threaten biodiversity; and underwater radiated noise. Our ability to tackle environmental and safety matters depends on a base of strong commitments to ensure and enhance maritime security. We have the experience and commitment from many donors to continuously strengthen national and regional cooperation. At the same time, it remains essential When geopolitical tensions disrupt shipping and innocent seafarers lose their lives, as we have seen recently in the Red Sea Area and during 2024, the only way forward is constructive dialogue. Maritime security is not just technical; it is deeply human. Multilateralism is key here. Maritime security is a shared responsibility. The ocean connects us all. Shipping — and seafarers’ lives — depend on the international community’s shared commitments to safe and secure navigation. I once again thank His Excellency the President of Panama for his kind invitation. And I thank the Security Council for its continued support for the work of the IMO.

I thank Mr. Domínguez for his briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Vásquez Morales.

It is an honour to appear before the Council on behalf of one of the most emblematic avenues of human cooperation: the Panama Canal. From its construction to its modern Panamanian administration, the Canal has been much more than a trade route: it has been a bridge between nations, an example of functional neutrality and a reminder that the common good requires constant commitment. (spoke in English) It is important to recognize the leadership of the Republic of Panama under the presidency of His Excellency Mr. José Raúl Mulino Quintero, whose unwavering determination to foster international cooperation is reflected in his stewardship of this organization. This achievement highlights the dedication of all involved. Through recent agreements and reforms, Panama has demonstrated its commitment to strengthening the rule of law and the well-being and prosperity of all Panamanians. (spoke in Spanish) I would like to share three perspectives from our experience that we believe resonate with the global challenges we are facing today. The first is the strength of principle-based neutrality. The Panama Canal is governed by an international treaty that guarantees equal access to all nations, in peace or war. This promise, which is part of our Constitution, has enabled a small country to bring stability to global trade, protecting this infrastructure from the geopolitical tensions that so often halt progress. The Canal, with its Board of Directors of nine members carefully appointed for staggered terms that transcend election cycles, ensures continuity and protects operational decisions from short- term political influences. In addition, we have an Advisory Board composed of international advisers with extensive global experience. The structure of the Panama Canal fosters transparency, technical competence and stable policies. This confirms that the Panama Canal is there to serve humankind, which, as I have already said, has allowed a small country to bring stability to global trade. The second is the transformative power of responsible management. In 25 years under Panamanian administration, the Canal has doubled its capacity, increased the number of its locks and reinforced its security. It has gone from being a strategic waterway to becoming a model of efficiency, transparency and technical commitment. Every dollar generated is reinvested to ensure that this artery continues to pulse strongly for the world and that any surplus goes to social investment in Panama. That is why, under Panamanian administration, the expansion of the Canal was completed in 2016 with a third set of locks. This was celebrated as one of the great infrastructure achievements of our time. The expansion of the Panama Canal, with a third set of locks, increased the volume of cargo passing through the Canal by The third is the urgent need to adapt to climate change. The drought of 2023– 2024 was, in our opinion, a global wake-up call. With innovations in water saving, logistical adjustments and the decision to build an artificial lake, we acted to ensure human supply chains and continued trade. We underscore that the artificial lake project is not happening in isolation. Plans for looking after the affected communities and environmental safeguards are being developed in accordance with international best practices, recognizing the need to balance infrastructure development with respect for human rights and ecological preservation. In Panama, we have learned that looking after water means protecting peace. However, looking at the present is not enough. Today we are building the future of the Canal with a clear vision. We are integrating logistical and energy corridors, expanding our port infrastructure and developing new capacities for cleaner fuels. We are preparing not only for a greater volume of traffic but for a smarter, greener form of transit that is more connected to the planet’s needs. The Canal is not static; it is evolving. It is evolving because the world needs it to do so, because trade requires resilient routes, because peace demands technological cooperation and because people need institutions that serve beyond borders. Allow me to put our conversation in a global context. More than 100,000 commercial vessels cross the world’s oceans every year, carrying approximately 80 per cent of the world’s trade. The Panama Canal, although it is only 50 nautical miles long, acts as a powerful lever for global efficiency, saving every vessel thousands of miles of navigation, which, depending on the number of transits, avoids up to 16 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually. Today the Canal shares technologies that enhance climate resilience, and it creates financial mechanisms that guarantee water and environmental security, while implementing efficient governance to take advantage of the rapid progress in artificial intelligence and helping to strengthen the cybersecurity of our routes and logistics systems. It also promotes collective commitments for the decarbonization of global transport and is aligned with the International Maritime Organization’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 within its operations. The Panama Canal is living proof that global public goods can be managed with equity, responsibility and vision. If Panama has been able to take care of a waterway through which an important share of world trade passes, then the international community can also protect what connects and sustains us. Through sustained collaboration, constant adaptation and firm commitment to the principles of international law, the Canal will remain a safe and efficient waterway, ready to serve not only this generation but many more to come. We are confident that by working together, we will be able to keep open not only the water channels but also the channels of understanding, peace and solidarity.

I thank Mr. Vásquez Morales for his briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Urquiza. Mr. Urquiza: It is an honour to address the Security Council on behalf of INTERPOL and the global law enforcement community. I would like thank Panama as the Council’s presidency for bringing us together and advancing the Council’s focus on maritime threats. Today I want to share what we are seeing from the front lines and offer concrete steps that we can take to confront maritime crime. Traditional maritime threats such as piracy and armed robbery remain deeply rooted and, in some regions, are surging. This is particularly concerning in Southeast Asia, where we are seeing a sharp increase in such attacks. From the Gulf of Guinea and the Singapore Strait to the Red Sea and the Somali coast, these threats continue to endanger lives and disrupt critical maritime corridors, with far-reaching consequences for regional stability and global supply chains. We also continue to see the crime-terror nexus play out at sea, where groups are tapping into criminal supply chains, moving weapons, operatives and illicit goods to finance their activities. These trends point to a broader shift. What were once isolated offences have evolved into converging maritime threats, carried out through the same command structures, routes and financial flows. Off the coast of West Africa, INTERPOL supported the tracking of a transnational network that repurposed the very same infrastructure to traffic drugs, move armed individuals and smuggle endangered wildlife. In the Americas, we saw traffickers manipulate legitimate trade channels, mislabelling protected timber as ordinary wood and concealing cocaine in the same shipments. This is poly-criminality at sea, making criminals more resilient and enforcement more complex. At the same time, we are seeing new and less visible dangers. As ports go digital — with automated vessel management, cargo tracking and logistics — vulnerabilities are emerging faster than they can be secured. Ports are facing a wave of cyberintrusions, targeting the power, communication and logistics systems on which they rely. Cybercriminals can weaponize artificial intelligence to attack with greater speed, scale and precision. Many ports are appealing targets, with minimal cybersecurity and maximum exposure. Criminal networks are exploiting every gap between jurisdictions and every weakness in our cooperation. These threats call for a coordinated global response — one that strengthens the rule of law and drives innovative solutions. The legal frameworks exist. The commitment is clear. What is needed is action that brings both to the front lines through multilateral cooperation. And there is a platform built for exactly this purpose. INTERPOL is where multilateral commitments become operational reality — helping member countries by delivering concrete results against maritime crime threats. This is built upon three key pillars, or imperatives, that I put to the Council today. The first is effective, data-driven international cooperation. Law enforcement, customs, port security and judicial authorities are most effective when they operate as part of a cohesive information network. As a neutral organization, INTERPOL serves as a trusted global information hub, connecting law enforcement across 196 member countries. Through our secure communications systems and our 19 global databases, hosting more than 150 million criminal records and accessed more than 8 billion times a year, INTERPOL helps member countries to harness emerging technologies to reinforce their national and regional security frameworks. Our global Maritime Security Database captures real-time intelligence on incidents, vessels and criminal networks — shared with us by States in line with Security Council resolutions 2634 (2022) and 2608 (2021). This allows us to identify patterns early and prevent threats before they reach States’ shores. Just last week, a database The second pillar is multilateral operational and investigative support. Maritime investigations are uniquely complex. They can involve fast-moving vessels, scattered evidence and legal systems that do not always align. That is why INTERPOL coordinates multilateral operations — on land and at sea — and provides intelligence analysis on shared information in real time, bringing together law enforcement from across jurisdictions, and thereby strengthening cooperation, building trust and delivering results. INTERPOL response teams are also deployed, upon request, to support special and sensitive investigations and for the collection of evidence. These efforts have exposed and disrupted highly organized criminal networks — confirming both the level of the threat and the success that international cooperation can bring. The third pillar is global threat expertise and outreach. No country should be expected to confront maritime crime alone — or without the resources to match the sophistication of modern threats. Through our Maritime Security Programme, we help countries to strengthen security and coordination in critical waterways. Working with international donors and partners, such as the International Maritime Organization and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, we provide a combination of global reach, trusted tools and operational expertise to detect illicit goods and build regional networks of port security experts. As criminals adopt new technologies, we help law enforcement to keep pace by providing the skills and tools to respond, effectively and responsibly. This includes extending our secure communication network to coastal and small island States — connecting the front lines of maritime security to the global law enforcement network and equipping them with the data and expertise to address both physical and cybermaritime threats. INTERPOL plays a crucial and essential role in the global security architecture. To truly have a lasting impact, we must strengthen security through development. Allow me to leave three key takeaways. First, INTERPOL has a presence in each member country. It therefore serves as a bridge for law enforcement agencies by fostering cooperation through a multilateral, multi-stakeholder approach. Secondly, we invite member countries to see INTERPOL as a trusted partner of choice — including at States’ critical seaports — to identify and deter potential threats linked to individuals, cargoes, or vessels. Thirdly, we invite the Security Council to support INTERPOL as an essential global partner in legal instruments, such as conventions, resolutions or declarations. INTERPOL has the mandate and the capabilities to support the Security Council and our member countries in both preventing maritime security threats and investigating the criminal networks behind them. This is a powerful resource that is already available and that has proven to be effective to mitigate global security threats. We stand ready to work with the Council to make a multilateral strategy an effective global response.

I thank Mr. Urquiza for his briefing. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as President of the Republic of Panama. At the outset, I would like to thank all delegations for distinguishing us with their valuable participation. It is our sincere wish that this open debate will serve to promote the discussion of maritime security, a subject of great importance for My country has enjoyed a strategic geographical position — one of historical ties to the oceans — and takes its responsibility for maintaining safe, efficient and sustainable routes seriously. We are a country that has been intrinsically bound to maritime trade, from colonial times to the present century. We are a symbol of unity and an instrument at the service of globalization and international logistical efficiency. Today, more than 80 per cent of the volume of world trade is transported by sea — a striking and hugely consequential gauge of our interdependence and, as is true of every form of interdependence, clear rules, cooperation and respect are required. Every day, more than 100,000 commercial vessels sail our seas and oceans. This means that 11 billion tons pass through international waters every year. The figures clearly reflect the magnitude of this activity and its ensuing challenges. Those of us here today are aware of the threats that I know that illegal fishing, modern-day piracy, drug trafficking, human trafficking, terrorist attacks and the misuse of vessels to evade international sanctions pose to Panama and other Member States. The maritime environment is particularly vulnerable to the spread of transnational organized crime, as multiple threats converge there to jeopardize the security, economies and sovereignty of States. Illicit trafficking in drugs, weapons, migrants and counterfeit goods is largely carried out via maritime routes, which are extremely porous owing to limited surveillance capacities and a lack of effective cooperation between countries. In the face of these challenges, Panama has taken a clear position: one of responsible leadership and effective action. Good maritime governance, as practised by Panama, allows vessels to be tracked, facilitates maritime surveillance and oversight and contributes actively to preventing international crime. Crucial in this connection is the role of concessionary ports, which must form part of a comprehensive maritime security system. Ports are among those areas most vulnerable to the illegal activities of extensive, globally connected organized groups. Our flag, flown by 14 per cent of the world’s merchant fleet, symbolizes our maritime tradition and represents active commitment to international regulations such as the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, the International Code for the Security of Ships and of Port Facilities and the Maritime Labour Convention of the International Labour Organization. Our vessel registration system has been strengthened by rigorous due diligence controls, and, through Executive Decree No. 512 of 2024, we have taken robust measures to exclude from our fleet any vessel or owner connected to international sanctions lists. Panama is not, and nor will it ever be, a haven for those who violate international law or threaten the security of the oceans. Behind every Panamanian flag that a ship flies stands a country that supports security, oversight and transparent compliance with the regulations in force. Our flagging is part of an official system and enjoys the guarantee of support of the State behind that flag. The Panamanian shipping registry is not a franchise. The Panamanian shipping regime consists of 8,810 vessels under our flag, representing 14 per cent of the world’s maritime fleet, equivalent to some 241 million registered tons gross. Our country reiterates its firm commitment to combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing through effective and deterrent sanctions, institutional strengthening with a robust legal framework and investment in mechanisms, technologies and equipment to strengthen surveillance, tracking and oversight. That effort, bolstered by international cooperation and aligned with the highest of standards, seeks to safeguard marine biodiversity and ensure sustainable It is imperative to underscore that multilateralism is the bedrock for strengthening all global maritime protection measures and strategies. Panama acknowledges and renews its commitment to the International Maritime Organization, an entity whose endeavours are necessary for the development and implementation of security strategies. Moreover, at its helm stands a highly accomplished and experienced Panamanian, who has just joined us at this meeting. We also acknowledge the need to redouble and update our efforts, through the Council, given the ever-changing challenges posed by crime in all its manifestations. We must buttress the sanctions regime when it comes to activities that use maritime transport to evade the regulations in force. I would like to make clear that the remit of the Council is not only to prevent crime or take concrete action to curb the activities of criminal and terrorist groups but also to safeguard peace among nations. In that connection, I wish to reiterate that public international law is the guarantor of the law vis-à-vis any imbalance in economic or military power. Preserving the neutrality of these routes as crucial spaces for global trade, international cooperation and global stability is paramount for peace and genuine international security. Lastly, I would point out to the Council that our canal serves 180 maritime routes, connecting more than 1,920 ports in 170 countries. Our neutrality, enshrined in an international treaty to which more than 40 States have acceded, has established itself as a guarantor of freedom of navigation and stability. The Panama Canal constitutes the cornerstone of our country’s maritime infrastructure and is complemented by a robust port system — one of the most dynamic and efficient in the region — and the continuous and sustained development of the Panamanian shipping regime as part of a national maritime and logistics strategy. The Panama Canal has grown and expanded over the past 25 years using Panamanian resources, as we just heard from its Chief Executive Officer. We have been facilitators of trade and sustainability in the global maritime industry. Panama is one of only three carbon-negative countries in the world. We have a vision of sustainable development that includes the protection of natural areas and the stewardship of one of the world’s greatest biodiversities. The joint work between the national Government and the Panama Canal Authority, based on its constitutional and legal autonomy, in terms of security, meets the highest international standards. And we have the support of countries such as the United States, which in terms of security provides significant capacity for the prevention of cyberterrorist attacks. Our Canal is proof that its neutrality is a fundamental contribution to world peace and the development of international trade. The secure transit of all vessels, in times of war and peace, is a guarantee of security for global navigation. I would like to close with an invitation to work together to focus on security, minimizing actions that increase the risks that threaten peace and promoting international trade. I resume my functions as President of the Council. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements. Today a secure maritime domain is absolutely essential for ensuring global trade, communications and supply chains. However, their importance notwithstanding, maritime routes are constantly under various threats, from traditional ones such as piracy and terrorism to emerging ones such as cyberattacks. Such a complicated maritime security landscape calls for the Council to actively engage with this evolving issue. Let me highlight three key points in this regard. First, the protection of civilian vessels must be ensured through the faithful implementation of international law and strengthened response capabilities. Despite the protection afforded under international law, threats against civilian shipping and safe navigation continue to occur, notably in the Red Sea and the Singapore Strait. Furthermore, the unlawful launch of ballistic missiles by North Korea, without prior notification or navigational warnings, poses a grave risk to maritime safety, to say nothing of regional and global security. To address such immediate threats and safeguard critical sea lanes, it is vital to ensure all relevant obligations under international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, are met and develop a comprehensive response framework for maritime threats. As a means to facilitate comprehensive responses in high-risk waters such as the Gulf of Aden, the Republic of Korea conducted joint exercises with the navy, the relevant authorities and shipping companies to ensure all actors were fully prepared for their rapid responses when commercial vessels were under threat in the waters. We hope our experience can serve as good practice for all relevant States in developing response frameworks in high-risk waters. Secondly, addressing transnational maritime crimes requires strengthened maritime governance through international cooperation and information-sharing. Transnational crimes such as piracy, drug trafficking and human smuggling continue to affect all regions. In 2024, 116 cases of piracy and armed robbery at sea were reported globally. And approximately 80 per cent of illicit drug trafficking occurs over maritime routes. Given their cross-border and interconnected nature, such crimes can be effectively addressed only through timely, transparent and accessible information-sharing among relevant actors. An important platform for supporting such information-sharing is the Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) of the IMO, which provides key data to identify and respond to maritime threats. Yet, such data can be fully leveraged only when it is presented in a manner that relevant authorities can instantly detect and respond to the risk. In this context, the Republic of Korea contributed $2.2 million to the GISIS enhancement project, which commenced last year. Its aim is to digitalize, analyse and visualize relevant data so that users can easily understand its context and address the risk accordingly. We hope our contribution can support all Member States in exploiting data to effectively address maritime risks. Thirdly, as emerging technologies hold great potential to enhance maritime security, we should explore ways to harness these opportunities while also mitigating associated risks. Artificial intelligence (AI) and satellite-based surveillance technologies are being used to detect illicit transshipments, prevent maritime accidents and monitor illegal fishing. For example, AI-based video analytics systems can identify abnormal vessel approach patterns to flag potential transshipment activities. Moreover, the integration of satellite Automatic Identification System (AIS) data enables the tracking of dark ships. In conclusion, maritime security is a shared responsibility critical to international security and sustainable development. As a peninsula nation depending on 99 per cent of its trade through maritime transport and a responsible member of the Security Council, the Republic of Korea stands ready to actively contribute to these efforts.

We greatly appreciate your decision, Your Excellency Mr. José Raúl Mulino Quintero, to preside over this meeting, which stands as a testament to the importance that Panama attaches to multilateralism, the United Nations, the Security Council and the topic under discussion today: maritime security. We thank the Chief Executive Officer of the Panama Canal Authority, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization and the Secretary General of INTERPOL for their insightful presentations. Algeria is pleased to take part in this important discussion and expresses its appreciation to Panama for convening this debate on such a critical issue, especially against the backdrop of international efforts to address the growing and complex challenges facing maritime security. As a country with a long Mediterranean coastline and a deep commitment to regional security and global stability, Algeria strongly supports all efforts to better protect our maritime spaces from illicit activities that threaten the safety, economies and sovereignty of coastal nations. We believe that existing regional frameworks, such as the African Union’s 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy, offer a solid foundation for regional cooperation. However, in order to be fully effective, these mechanisms must be strengthened through more robust funding, enhanced capacity- building and closer cooperation among regional navies and coastguards. Greater coordination on the ground is key to tackling shared threats, such as piracy, arms and drug trafficking, illegal fishing and the smuggling of people. Algeria believes that the time has come to consider the establishment of a dedicated United Nations mechanism focused especially on maritime security. Such a body could help coordinate rapid responses, facilitate the sharing of information and improve cooperation among all relevant actors, in line with international law. This should be done in close partnership with regional stakeholders. Improving maritime security also requires us to work better together. This includes joint naval exercises, harmonizing legal frameworks and implementing shared surveillance tools. In this regard, my country sees special potential in new technologies, including satellite monitoring, artificial intelligence and big data to improve early detection and support real-time responses to suspicious maritime activity. On the issue of piracy, we must remember that security at sea often begins on land. Addressing root causes, such as poverty, conflict and weak governance, remains essential. Any lasting maritime security strategy must be accompanied by development efforts that promote the resilience of coastal communities and the global economy as a whole. In conclusion, Algeria reaffirms its strong support for a maritime security architecture that is inclusive, cooperative and forward-looking. We stand ready to work with all Member States to ensure that our seas remain safe, our partnerships resilient and grounded on the principle of solidarity, and our ocean heritage protected for generations to come.

Guyana welcomes the participation of His Excellency Mr. José Raúl Mulino Quintero, President of the Republic of Panama, in today’s meeting and commends Panama for organizing this important debate on maritime Having discussed this subject a few months ago under the Greek presidency (see S/PV.9919), Guyana believes that today’s meeting is complementary and represents not only the growing importance of global maritime security, but also the need for the Security Council to be fully seized of the various aspects of the issue and how we can collectively address them. We acknowledge the vital role of the Panama Canal in making global trade more efficient and note the ongoing efforts to improve its sustainability. I will make three points. First, the briefings this morning have outlined in clear terms the global challenges facing the maritime sector today — from piracy and the trafficking of goods, people, drugs and arms by sea to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Maritime crimes are increasing at an alarming rate and demand a multilateral response. Guyana supports this approach and views cooperation and mutual exchange as essential for realizing more creative, strong and comprehensive solutions to common challenges. In this regard, we see robust international cooperation as critical for reducing emerging threats in the maritime domain and for the global community to stay ahead of the criminal networks that threaten global maritime security. To be effective, we need to develop and improve mechanisms that promote knowledge-sharing, information exchange and technology transfer for mutual benefit. It is also vital that we work together in leveraging the use of new and existing technologies to enhance surveillance, communication and response capabilities. Secondly, the Security Council needs to play a stronger role in supporting efforts to safeguard the security of our oceans. Notwithstanding the important work being carried out by technical agencies and other bodies, there is a need for a broader discussion and a more comprehensive approach to assessing and addressing maritime threats with a transnational dimension. At the centre of such discussions would have to be the subject of international law and the responsibility of States in combating crimes at sea and protecting navigational freedom and the marine environment. There is a need to ensure stronger coordination through bilateral and multilateral cooperation at the technical and political levels and for a more dedicated focus on technology transfer to developing States. Finally, maritime safety also encompasses the safety of the marine environment from pollution, which must remain at the forefront of the discourse, considering the evolving climate environment. This was emphasized during the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in the context of decarbonizing the maritime sector by reducing pollution from ships. Guyana sees value in supporting initiatives aimed at instituting clean air policies in shipping and supporting the development of new low-carbon fuels and propulsion modes. These should be developed in line with the IMO’s steps towards establishing a legally binding framework to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships globally, which would benefit both the climate and the marine environment. Enhancing climate mitigation and resilience measures through better emissions tracking and climate-adaptive infrastructure must also be leveraged to safeguard against the potential of climate change being a risk multiplier to global maritime insecurity. In closing, Guyana stands ready to continue working with fellow Council members and other relevant stakeholders in advancing the discussion and promoting initiatives that protect our shared maritime space for future generations. Challenges and threats at sea are becoming increasingly diverse in nature. Some of them, including piracy and the nexus between crime and international terrorism, do indeed fall under the remit of the Security Council. The proactive actions taken by the Security Council in line with its central role, including the adoption in December 2008 of resolution 1851 (2008), on establishing the Contact Group on Illicit Maritime Activities in the Western Indian Ocean, managed, broadly, to curb the phenomenon of rampant piracy in the twenty-first century. Measures were also undertaken to strengthen the maritime law enforcement capabilities in a number of regional States, with dozens of pirates detained and brought to justice. The Russian Federation was actively involved in these efforts. We provided naval forces to escort civilian vessels and participated in the work of relevant regional formats. Nevertheless, acts of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea continue to be a source of deep concern. A number of such incidents have even involved the taking hostage of Russian sailors. In order to enhance the combat readiness and technological equipment of the coast guard forces of the countries of the region, we are scaling up financial assistance from the Russian Federation’s annual voluntary contribution to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. As regards terrorism at sea, it is extremely rare in its pure form. The only high- profile terrorist attack of this kind in recent times was the sabotage of the Russian Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea in September 2022. As we all know, this incident became possible in the context of the frenzied anti-Russian stance of the previous United States Administration under Joe Biden, which undoubtedly posed a serious risk to international peace and security. All of our attempts to initiate an independent international investigation into this criminal act or adopt measures through the Security Council were repeatedly blocked by its Western members. This makes us question the circumstances surrounding the preparation and implementation of this terrorism attack. As we all recall, in support of their position, they have voiced their total faith in the national investigations conducted by Germany, Denmark and Sweden. They expressed their boundless confidence, in advance, that the investigation would be effective and credible. As we know, the effectiveness of the investigations conducted by Denmark and Sweden led to zero results. The German authorities, meanwhile, are still dragging their feet and are repeatedly refusing to provide substantive information on the progress of the investigation to both the Security Council and the international community as a whole. That is fuelling various speculations and entirely implausible versions in the international media. Nonetheless, no matter what is done by Berlin and by those who are intentionally preventing the publication of the results of the German investigation, the truth will come out, and all perpetrators will be identified and held accountable. Moving on to the issue of maritime crime, we would like to emphasize that such matters also do not fall under the remit of the Security Council but must be addressed by the relevant international bodies. In particular, developing a unified approach to combating organized crime, in general, including its maritime component, is the purview of the General Assembly and the subsidiary organs of the Economic and Social Council, in particular the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice. To date, these organs have developed an impressive body of decisions on various aspects of combating transnational crime. In addition, a system of specialized It is difficult to overestimate the significance of bilateral cooperation through providing mutual legal assistance on criminal cases. Without this, it would hardly be possible to effectively tackle transnational crime. It is extremely important that this mechanism function on a clear and predictable basis, without politicization or double standards. As we are well aware, today there are serious problems with this. Requests from relevant Russian authorities are not complied with by most Western countries, even in cases where such compliance is clearly stipulated in the provisions of the relevant international treaties or Security Council resolutions. It is done purely for political reasons. As a result, it is the transnational criminals who win, enjoying complete impunity. The concept note for today’s meeting (S/2025/483, annex) mentions climate change. We would like to stress that monitoring climate change and developing response and adaptation measures to it also does not fall under the remit of the Security Council. There are specialized mechanisms established for this purpose on the basis of the relevant international legal instruments, primarily the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. We deem attempts to use environmental issues as a pretext for strengthening security measures as unacceptable. We must note that the issue of climate change is increasingly being taken hostage to various kinds of political speculations and conjectures that are rooted neither in theory nor practice. In contrast, the damage caused to maritime trade, freedom of navigation and sustainable global supply chains by unilateral coercive measures imposed by Western countries is very real indeed. These countries use this tool to violate international law in order to prop up their own domination and carry out unfair competition through non-economic means. Having stable and predictable maritime logistics is important for all countries — and for small island States or coastal developing countries, it is a matter of survival. Unfortunately, we are increasingly witnessing actions designed to create artificial barriers and threats in these relations. Unilateral coercive measures are inherently unlawful, and imposing them runs counter to international law. However, States that use these entirely unlawful measures tend to label vessels that attempt to circumvent such measures as belonging to the so-called “shadow fleet”. I would like to underscore that this term has no legal basis and is not backed by any transparent international mechanism. In other words, it is nothing more than arbitrariness on the part of Western countries, which are hiding their desire to maintain their global dominance by hook or crook. In practice, such actions purely serve to complicate logistics and increase the cost of goods for consumers. In the end, it is developing countries that suffer the most. When considering maritime security issues, we cannot but mention the actions of individual States to escalate tensions in regions often located thousands of nautical miles from their own borders. They are presented as naval operations to support freedom of navigation, although in practice they are nothing but the same old blatant provocations. What poses a particular threat are the frequent attempts by Western countries to encroach on fundamental maritime freedoms, including freedom of navigation and the right of peaceful passage and transit. At a meeting during the Greek Security Council presidency in May, we recounted the egregious actions of Estonian patrol ships attempting to seize a tanker that was navigating in international waters (see S/PV.9919). There were two attempts to seize the vessel from a helicopter, and an Estonian navy boat literally tried to ram the tanker. All this was done under the same pretext of combating the so-called shadow fleet, which I mentioned today and has no basis in international law. As is well known, the 1982 United Nations Convention on In conclusion, I would like to touch on what was mentioned in the concept note for today’s meeting (S/2025/483, annex), namely the initiative to establish an international body for maritime security. In our view, the relevant efforts being made at the national level and through existing regional and universal organizations are quite effective and sufficient. We urge everyone to focus on improving them where necessary and to refrain from complicating the context for their implementation, including through the unlawful measures I have mentioned.

I warmly welcome His Excellency Mr. José Raúl Mulino Quintero, President of the Republic of Panama, to the Security Council and commend Panama’s leadership in convening this important high-level open debate. We extend our appreciation to Mr. Domínguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO); Mr. Vásquez Morales, Chief Executive Officer of the Panama Canal Authority; and Mr. Urquiza, Secretary General of INTERPOL for their comprehensive and important briefings. Sierra Leone values this timely discussion, which reinforces our shared responsibility to safeguard the oceans as vital conduits for global peace, economic stability and environmental sustainability. The interlinkages between these objectives reflect the spirit of multilateralism and international law, as underscored in the Pact for the Future (General Assembly resolution 79/1). We acknowledge, with particular appreciation, the administration by Panama of the Panama Canal — one of the most important and strategic waterways in the world. For decades, this neutral and secure passage has facilitated the peaceful and uninterrupted transit of vessels of all nations, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and sustaining global trade. It is a model of how international maritime infrastructure can be managed responsibly for the global common good, balancing commercial, environmental and security considerations. With more than 80 per cent of global trade by volume and the vast majority of international data traffic being dependent on undersea cables, maritime supply chains remain the backbone of the global economy. Yet they face intensifying threats, ranging from piracy, armed robbery and terrorism to illicit trafficking, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, environmental degradation, climate change and emerging risks from drones, cyberattacks and shadow fleets and the misuse of artificial intelligence. In this regard, the Pact for the Future calls for collective action to safeguard maritime trade routes, strengthen governance, enhance capacity-building and improve cooperation to protect marine resources and critical infrastructure. In the light of the foregoing, allow me to highlight three key points. First, complex and evolving maritime threats jeopardize both the safety of sea routes and the socioeconomic development of coastal and landlocked States alike. In West Africa, for example, shifts in global shipping routes owing to hostilities in the Red Sea and Black Sea have increased activity along the Gulf of Guinea, heightening the risk of smuggling, terrorism and piracy. An attack on ports in this corridor would have Secondly, maritime security requires harmonized and mutually reinforcing global, regional and national responses. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions and regional instruments, such as the Code of Conduct concerning the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, the Yaoundé Architecture, the Charter on Maritime Security and Safety and Development in Africa and the 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy of the African Union, provide an essential framework. Their implementation must be supported by sustainable financing, capacity-building and inclusive participation. We commend the IMO’s leadership and note with appreciation the contributions of cooperative mechanisms, such as the African Maritime Law Enforcement Partnership, the Combined Maritime Forces’ Combined Task Force 151 and Operation Atalanta, which have significantly reduced piracy incidents in the Horn of Africa and the Western Indian Ocean. Addressing IUU fishing, estimated to cost more than $2 billion annually, remains critical. Such practices erode livelihoods, undermine biodiversity and weaken governance. Initiatives in Ghana, Liberia, Mauritania, Senegal and Sierra Leone, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and civil society, show the value of strengthened transshipment controls and community-based enforcement. Thirdly, climate change, pollution and environmental degradation act as risk multipliers for maritime security, disrupting operations and fuelling competition over resources. Leveraging innovative and safe technologies, such as the automatic identification system, satellite monitoring, drones and Internet-of-things-enabled systems, can enhance maritime domain awareness, surveillance, operational readiness and environmental protection. The Panama Canal’s integration of such systems offers a valuable example of resilience and cybersecurity in port and canal management. In particular, the automatic identification system, satellite networks, uncrewed surface vehicles and advanced sensor systems improve real-time vessel tracking, situational awareness and threat detection, whether for illegal fishing, oil spills or other maritime hazards. In conclusion, Sierra Leone calls for a strengthened global governance framework for maritime security, rooted in UNCLOS, aligned with the Pact for the Future and advancing sustainable development, climate resilience and the fight against transnational crime. This should include open and transparent information-sharing between States, multilateral and regional organizations and the private sector and the responsible and equitable use of technology under clear regulations and oversight. The challenges are shared and so must our solutions be. Let us work together to ensure that the world’s oceans remain secure, sustainable and open for the benefit of all humankind.

I thank President Mulino Quintero for presiding over today’s open debate. I also thank International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Domínguez, Panama Canal Authority Chief Executive Officer Vásquez Morales and INTERPOL Secretary General Urquiza for their briefings. Oceans and seas are vital to human survival and development. They are also a natural platform for inter-civilizational exchanges. Each day, more than 100,000 commercial ships sail across the seas, carrying more than 80 per cent of global cargo trade. Oceans and seas are the arteries that convey the lifeblood for economic and social activities. First, the international rule of law must be upheld, and equity and justice defended. Without the rule of law, it is almost impossible to achieve peace across the seas. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is a comprehensive legal instrument governing oceans and seas. UNCLOS, other pertinent international treaties and customary international law form the bedrock of the modern maritime order. We must firmly safeguard the international maritime order, anchored in international law, interpret and apply UNCLOS in its entirety, to the letter and in good faith, and reject its selective application and double standards. Secondly, law enforcement cooperation must be strengthened in combating maritime criminality. Maritime crimes, such as piracy, armed robbery at sea, drug and arms trafficking and human trafficking continue to be perpetrated frequently and are increasingly connected with land-based conflicts and instability, transnational organized crime and the financing of terrorism. Countries must intensify efforts to combat these crimes and enhance law enforcement cooperation to ensure the safety of navigation. It is essential to assist coastal States in building law enforcement capacity, while respecting their sovereignty, and to address the root causes of instability through poverty reduction and sustainable development. Thirdly, dialogue and consultation must be promoted to maintain peace and stability. We must effectively implement resolution 2788 (2025), improve crisis communication, strengthen regional cooperation and commit ourselves to the peaceful resolution of disputes. Historical disputes over maritime territories and rights should be resolved through friendly consultations between the parties directly concerned. China is concerned by the continuation and escalation of tensions in the Red Sea and urges calm and restraint among the parties. We call on the Houthis to desist from attacks on commercial vessels and to keep international waterways safe and secure. Fourthly, global governance must be improved to address emerging challenges. We must uphold true multilateralism and support the active role of the United Nations in jointly tackling such challenges as those concerning marine environmental protection, climate change and rising sea levels. We should embrace the principles of openness, inclusiveness and win-win cooperation to develop maritime infrastructure, promote the sustainable development and utilization of marine resources and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. It is also important to explore the use of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data and satellite remote sensing to enhance our ability to detect and respond to maritime security risks. International waterways are a vital lifeline for global trade. We take note of the briefing by Mr. Vásquez Morales and of the statement that you made, Mr. President, about the neutrality of the Panama Canal. Panama has consistently and effectively managed the Canal, making significant contributions to global shipping and trade. China has always respected the permanent neutrality of the Canal and firmly supports Panama in safeguarding its sovereignty over the Canal to ensure its openness and smooth operation. The blue planet that humankind inhabits is not divided into stand-alone islands by oceans and seas but rather connected by them into a community with a shared future. As a major developing maritime country, China actively fulfils its

I would like to welcome you, Mr. President, in the Chamber today. Having you presiding over open debate testifies to the importance that Panama attaches to maritime security. I also want to thank Mr. Domínguez, of the International Maritime Organization (IMO); Mr. Vásquez Morales, of the Panama Canal Authority; and Mr. Urquiza, of INTERPOL, for their informative briefings. Slovenia thanks the presidency for organizing today’s important debate, with distinguished briefers from the IMO, the Panama Canal Authority and INTERPOL. We welcome the fact that maritime security features prominently on this year’s agenda of the Security Council. The oceans connect us all — environmentally, economically and in terms of our collective security. Their protection and safe use are our shared responsibility. As a maritime nation, Slovenia is keenly aware of the importance of secure and stable sea lanes. Our own Port of Koper, situated on the Adriatic coast, serves as a vital gateway between Central and Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean, facilitating the movement of goods and supporting regional economic resilience. In today’s interconnected world, geopolitical tensions on land often echo at sea. Whether through threats to freedom of navigation, criminal activity, piracy or the disruption of maritime supply chains, these challenges demand our close and coordinated attention. I would like to make the following three points in this regard. First, as with all matters of international peace and security, we must be guided by international law. In this regard, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provides the primary legal framework for maritime governance. States are not only bound by its provisions but are also explicitly obliged to act in good faith to uphold its principles. That includes taking all necessary preventive measures and ensuring accountability where violations occur. The Security Council has a role in underscoring these obligations and supporting efforts to ensure compliance. Secondly, maritime security must go hand in hand with ocean protection and sustainable development. In the words of Mr. Vásquez Morales, the Chief Executive Officer of the Panama Canal Authority, caring for water means protecting peace. We support expanding marine protected areas, tackling illegal fishing and marine pollution and fostering a sustainable blue economy that enables inclusive growth for coastal and island nations. Advancing these goals requires strengthened international cooperation, harmonized legal frameworks and the meaningful empowerment of local communities — all are essential steps to ensure that ocean health and human prosperity advance together. Thirdly, looking ahead, we must not only secure the seas but also address the challenges posed by organized crime. The infiltration of legitimate business structures remains a core enabler of organized crime. In the light of these developments, we agree with the Secretary General of INTERPOL that it is imperative that we adopt a forward-looking, intelligence-led and technologically driven approach to countering Let us therefore work together to ensure that the seas remain a space of opportunity, not vulnerability. Slovenia remains committed to doing its part.

I wish to thank the Republic of Panama for convening this meeting on maritime security and welcome you, Mr. President, among us. I also thank the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Mr. Arsenio Domínguez, as well as Mr. Ricaurte Vásquez Morales and Mr. Valdecy Urquiza, Secretary General of INTERPOL, for their briefings. First and foremost, the security of maritime spaces is contingent on adherence to international law. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea lays down the legal framework that governs all maritime activities. France reaffirms its commitment to freedom of navigation in accordance with international law. In that vein, France renews its support for the International Maritime Organization, which plays an essential role in establishing elevated common standards in terms of maritime security, the prevention of, and the fight against, marine pollution, as well as seafarers’ activities. The Security Council bears a particular responsibility for ensuring adherence to the law of the sea and for striving for the peaceful settlement of disputes pursuant to Article 36 of the Charter of the United Nations. Secondly, the maritime environment is the theatre of transnational threats to which we must provide a collective and coordinated response. Impediments to freedom of navigation constitute a major security threat. Given the significance of maritime transit for the global economy, the economic and social stakes are considerable, in particular for the most vulnerable countries and communities. Off the coast of Yemen, the Iran-backed Houthis must cease their destabilizing attacks and their violations of the arms embargo. In the face of Houthi attacks, France remains engaged, as part of the European Union’s defensive Operation Aspides, in the quest to preserve the security of maritime navigation In resolution 2722 (2024), the Council underscored the right of Member States, in accordance with international law, to defend their vessels from such attacks. Illicit ship-to-ship transfers are being used to circumvent sanctions regimes introduced by the Council to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The Council must also remain vigilant about such violations of its resolutions, and States must step up their surveillance of maritime traffic. The activities of criminal groups that are engaging in trafficking of various kinds — in particular, the trafficking of migrants seen in the Mediterranean and drugs trafficking between Latin America and Europe — fuel insecurity and harms freedom of navigation. In that connection, France reaffirms its support for INTERPOL, which is endeavouring to strengthen maritime and port security in liaison with key actors and organizations in the sector. Thirdly, France is committed to fostering maritime safety and security in a number of regions. In particular, France is supporting its African partners in the Gulf of Guinea in their maritime security efforts as part of the Yaoundé Architecture — a concrete example of a coordinated, effective response to a cross-border challenge. France is supporting the region through European initiatives, specifically the coordinated maritime presence in the Gulf of Guinea, and is engaged at the national level through Operation Corymbe. France has set up two national, maritime training institutions with a regional focus in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and in Tica, Equatorial Guinea. The effort to protect the seas is also being pursued through the European Union’s common security and defence policy, the European Union Naval Force and its Operation Aspides, for safeguard freedom of navigation off the coast of Yemen, and Respect for freedom of navigation is crucial on all seas and oceans. In the Black Sea, it is necessary for food security and the global supply chains. Since the outbreak of the Russian aggression against Ukraine in February 2022, France has supported efforts to protect civilian vessels, the security of seafarers and the export of grain through the Black Sea. France remains concerned about the situation in the South China Sea, where no restrictions on the exercise of the rights and freedoms guaranteed under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, in particular the freedoms of the high seas, can be countenanced. France is opposed to any use of force and calls for the peaceful settlement of disputes. Fourthly, maritime security cannot be divorced from protecting the marine environment and combating pollution and climate change. France has embraced its responsibility to protect the oceans and to manage resources sustainably. In that vein, together with Costa Rica, it convened the third United Nations Ocean Conference in June. In Nice, significant strides were taken in terms of the signature and ratification of a number of international agreements. Thanks to active blue diplomacy, 52 States and the European Union have now ratified the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction. We actively encourage those States that have not yet done so to deposit their instruments of ratification by September so that the Agreement can enter into force in January 2026. Due to the momentum generated by the Conference, 23 countries have now ratified the so- called “Cape Town Agreement” of the International Maritime Organization, on the safety of fishing vessels, which will enter into force when sufficient fleets — an aggregate of 3,600 fishing vessels — have ratified it. Although 2,935 vessels are currently eligible, the pledges made by a number of countries during the third United Nations Ocean Conference, held in Nice, should enable its entry into force by the end of the year. France also condemns all unilateral attempts in contravention of international law and the regime established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to grab mineral resources from the deep seabed outside of the International Seabed Authority framework. Just as it did during the thirtieth session of the International Seabed Authority in Kingston, which concluded on 25 July, France calls on all States to, at the very least, adopt a moratorium on the exploitation of deep seabed resources outside of national jurisdictions in order to avert any irreversible damage to marine ecosystems for want of sufficient scientific knowledge. So as to better incorporate oceans into the European Union’s foreign policies, the first European Ocean Pact was presented at the third United Nations Conference in Nice. Approximately €1 billion is to be invested in the priorities of the Pact, which include strengthening maritime security. In conclusion, the safety and security of maritime areas demands collective, resolute and consistent action. Such action entails bolstering cooperation between the various relevant international organizations. My country is fully committed to that end.

Pakistan joins other colleagues in thanking Panama for convening this important debate. Your presence, Mr. President, in presiding over this session reflects the importance that Panama attaches to maritime security and multilateralism. We also thank Mr. Domínguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization; Mr. Vásquez Morales, Chief Executive Officer As a coastal State at the confluence of major sea lanes in the northern Arabian Sea, Pakistan accords the highest importance to a secure, rules-based maritime domain, critical to our national security, economic resilience, regional connectivity, and food and energy security. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea remains the bedrock for ocean governance, ensuring freedom of navigation, peaceful dispute settlement and equitable resource-sharing. Unwavering adherence to its principles is essential for safeguarding maritime security and peace. Yet, troubling patterns endure, manifested by unchecked naval build-ups, deliberate militarization of strategic waters, and the pursuit of regional influence through muscle-flexing and coercive posturing. In some quarters, the seas are seen not as a shared domain, but as a stage for asserting primacy. That mindset is laid bare in the orchestrated exclusion of certain States from maritime cooperation arrangements, undermining inclusivity, corroding trust and destabilizing the balance of the seas. Attempts to dominate maritime spaces or marginalize coastal States must be rejected, because they are counterproductive. Oceans must remain zones of peace, prosperity and inclusive development. Attacks on commercial shipping undermine maritime security and global trade. We condemn such acts, including the recent Red Sea incidents, and we support the Secretary-General’s call for restraint and protection of navigation routes. Pakistan regards the Arabian Sea as its fifth neighbour — a cornerstone of its economic ambition and strategic horizon. Positioned at the junction of vital sea lanes, Pakistan is uniquely placed to serve as a premier transshipment hub and the primary gateway linking the landlocked heart of Central Asia with the global trading system. Pakistan remains a long-standing and active contributor to international maritime security. Our navy participates in Combined Maritime Forces’ Task Forces 150 and 151, and conducts regular regional maritime security patrols to ensure safe and secure seas. Pakistan also takes pride in regularly hosting the multinational exercise AMAN in Karachi, which is one of the largest naval gatherings in the region. The ninth edition of AMAN, held in February, brought together more than 60 navies from across the world in a demonstration of unity and shared commitment to cooperative security at sea. That platform fosters interoperability, builds trust and strengthens collective capacity to address evolving maritime challenges. At the national level, we have enhanced coordination through the Joint Maritime Information Coordination Centre (JMICC), while expanding satellite-based monitoring in collaboration with Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, known as SUPARCO. Through the integration of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven surveillance and advanced vessel tracking systems, JMICC has improved response times, facilitated the rescue of more than 1,800 lives and played a critical role in countering transnational crimes at sea. Looking ahead, we are deploying Vessel Traffic Management Information Systems across key ports to enhance navigational safety, improve maritime domain awareness and strengthen our overall maritime security architecture. At the same time, climate change is intensifying maritime risks. Pakistan supports embedding the climate-ocean-security nexus appropriately into global and inclusive frameworks to enable vulnerable coastal States to adapt and thrive. As we have heard around the table, maritime security is integral to global peace and stability. We must reject any attempts to turn the seas into arenas of strategic rivalry and should instead reaffirm our commitment to multilateralism, inclusivity and cooperation. In this regard, Pakistan proposes the following. First, we should enhance the capacity of developing countries through targeted technology transfer, maritime domain awareness tools and joint training programmes. Secondly, we should establish a global early-warning and rapid-response mechanism to address piracy, trafficking, illegal fishing and maritime accidents in real time. Thirdly, we should adopt a collaborative approach to emerging maritime technologies, including AI and autonomous systems, to avoid turning the seas into an arena of conflict, while ensuring that their development aligns with international law and ongoing global processes. Fourthly, we should foster regional dialogue and trust-building to deter hegemonic designs and preserve open sea lanes vital to global trade. Fifthly, we should integrate climate resilience and disaster-response capabilities into maritime security strategies, protecting coastal communities and safeguarding sea-based trade. The oceans connect us all. Pakistan stands ready to work with all countries to safeguard the maritime domain, uphold international law and ensure our oceans remain open, peaceful and shared for the benefit of all humankind.

I thank you, President José Raúl Mulino Quintero, for convening this important meeting during Panama’s presidency of the Security Council. I also thank all the briefers for their insightful briefings. The United Kingdom commends Panama’s leadership in upholding international maritime standards through its work to remove ships from its registry that fall short of international regulations. We further recognize the strategic importance of the Panama Canal to maritime security and flows in international trade. As a fellow maritime nation, the United Kingdom emphasizes the importance of keeping trade routes open and secure. They are vital to our shared economic prosperity. We reaffirm our commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as the legal framework for all activities in the ocean and seas. But we note with deep concern that globally the rule of law and the safety of our sea lanes is being eroded. This includes reckless Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, which the United Kingdom unequivocally condemns. We call for the immediate cessation of such attacks and full respect for freedom of navigation. As we have heard from the briefers, other illicit activities, including illegal fishing, smuggling and illegal migration, pose further threats to maritime security. The United Kingdom is implementing programmes to target organized crime groups and disrupt such activities taking place across maritime routes and seaways. We are also supporting capacity-building and the strengthening of governance at seaports. Tackling these challenges means working with international partners across all Collective action is vital to secure the safety of our seas for future generations. The United Kingdom stands ready to work with all Member States in support of this shared objective.

I thank President Mulino for his presence today, for his call to action and for Panama’s commitment to keeping maritime security where it belongs: high on the agenda. Let me also thank our briefers for their varied and insightful remarks. Each of their organizations plays a vital role in maintaining peace and security at sea. Allow me to make four key points. First, maritime security begins with legal clarity. Respect for international law must remain our compass at sea as well. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out. It must be respected, defended and implemented. It is only by upholding international law and our collective commitment to multilateralism that we can address the maritime security challenges that we face. The Security Council also has a role to play. From preventing the evasion of sanctions to impeding the illicit transportation of critical resources, this body continues to contribute to a peaceful maritime environment. However, resolutions will simply remain words on paper if they are not translated into action. All States Members of the United Nations must implement and uphold them. Unfortunately, unilateral actions continue to challenge the international legal order, with ongoing threats to freedom of navigation. This is most notable in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Guinea, where Denmark has been engaging in national efforts and in coordinated multinational efforts to respond to piracy and other attacks on civilian commercial vessels. We do so with a clear goal: ensuring freedom of navigation for all. Secondly, maritime security can be addressed only through a comprehensive and cooperative approach. Addressing piracy or illicit trafficking alone is not enough. Where States lack the capacity to monitor or govern their maritime space, malicious actors, unfortunately, often move in. That is why Denmark supports approaches that link security to long-term capacity-building and development. National ownership, regional coordination and international support must go hand in hand. As today’s briefers highlighted, drug traffickers abuse the freedom of navigation to wreak havoc in source, transit and destination countries. A transnational response is needed to address the rise in maritime drug trafficking and organized criminal networks operating on the high seas. Thirdly, we must respond to the growing complexity of maritime threats. There are new vectors of instability: attacks on critical undersea infrastructure, false flag registries, environmental degradation and the emergence of shadow fleets operating with impunity. Denmark is particularly concerned about the shadow fleet operating in the Baltic Sea. The increasing reliance on old, poorly maintained and insufficiently insured vessels poses a great risk to seafarers, maritime safety and security, the integrity of seaborne trade and the environment. These vessels are often sailing with their transponders off to evade sanctions, including United Nations sanctions. Shadow fleets operate in the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean, the Straits of Malacca, Singapore and elsewhere. The rules of the sea are being deliberately Protecting critical undersea infrastructure is vital for the functioning of our interconnected societies. Attacks on such infrastructure are deplorable and must be prevented. Coastal States’ capacities to monitor and respond to maritime threats above and below the surface need to be enhanced. As the destruction of submarine cables and pipelines is often caused by flagless vessels, restricting their freedom of navigation would enhance maritime security. In this regard, I take note of the comments by the representative of the Russian Federation on the Nord Stream sabotage, and I want to underline that Denmark takes the sabotage against the Nord Stream pipeline seriously and that, together with Germany and Sweden, Denmark has kept the Security Council thoroughly informed throughout the investigation process. We have done so through numerous notes throughout 2022, 2023 and 2024. Denmark has had close cooperation with the relevant foreign authorities, especially concerning the technical aspects of the investigation. The Russian authorities have been informed continually about the progress of our investigations. Fourthly and finally, we need a stronger, more coordinated global response to critical maritime security challenges. Today’s debate continues recent efforts to include the Security Council in considerations of new United Nations mechanisms to enhance peace and security in the maritime domain. We welcome these efforts, and we support a strengthened United Nations role in this regard. A strong collective response to maritime threats is in all of our interests. It is a critical ingredient to building peace and security and to promoting economic prosperity, the rule of law and sustainable development for all.

I thank President Mulino for convening this important debate today. I would also like to thank Secretary-General Domínguez, Chief Executive Officer Vásquez Morales and Secretary General Urquiza for their briefings today. The Panama Canal is one of the world’s great instruments of commerce and economic security. It remains a historic engineering achievement, built at great cost by the United States and upheld by the United States’ security guarantees. The United States and Panama have been strong partners on maritime security. We support Panama’s increasing vigilance in responding to malicious maritime cyberactivities. The United States, however, remains concerned about China’s outsized influence over the Panama Canal area, especially over critical infrastructure and port operations. China’s expansive and unlawful maritime claims and aggressive actions demonstrate its threat to maritime security and commerce. The United States rejects such claims and stands with claimants in the face of China’s provocative actions and intimidation. China’s influence in the Canal area is not just a risk to Panama and the United States, but rather a potential threat to global trade and security. Iran also poses a threat to maritime security through its support for the Houthis and other terrorist groups and its seizure of vessels transiting international waters. The United States calls for Iran to release the vessels that it still holds, including the MSC Aries. We remind Member States of their obligation to implement the United Nations embargo on the transfer of arms and related materiel to the Houthis. Iran and other countries continue to violate this embargo, providing the Houthis with the rockets and munitions, in addition to the components and chemicals that they use to rain attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Just last month, the Houthis attacked and sank two commercial vessels, resulting in loss of life, injury to sailors and the capture of hostages. We condemn these attacks and call for the immediate release of all crew members. Maritime sanctions are fundamental to the efforts of the Security Council to limit the flow of international funding and resources to the illicit Democratic People’s Republic of Korea nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. Several months ago, independent researchers from the Open Source Centre presented conclusive photographic evidence of commercial shipping transfers of coal and iron ore from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to other Member States, in violation of United Nations sanctions (see S/PV.9912). The United States is working with our partners to ensure that six vessels involved in those transfers are designated in the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006). We urge all Members of the Council to swiftly support those designations. Turning to best practices, the United States recognizes INTERPOL’s efforts to improve real-time screening of illicit international travel and technological exchange between coastal authorities and regional organizations. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) recently agreed to develop a cybersecurity code that will provide specific measures for ships and ports to counter cybersecurity threats. In addition, the IMO has taken steps to address shadow fleets that traffic oil and other sanctioned products and is developing measures to address the related problem of fraudulent ship registries. The Registry Information-Sharing Compact is another initiative that has quickly become an essential best practice in the maritime sector, providing flag States with unprecedented transparency and compliance assistance in combating registry hopping by vessels and shipping companies seeking to evade sanctions and other maritime regulations. We commend Panama, as well as the flag registries of Liberia and the Marshall Islands for kick-starting the Compact, and we strongly support the expansion of its membership and collaborative work. The United States once again thanks Panama for this initiative and looks forward to continued engagement on efforts to counter emerging challenges to maritime security.

Allow me to begin by expressing our sincere appreciation to the Panamanian presidency for convening this important and timely high-level debate. We also extend a warm welcome to Your Excellency Mr. José Raúl Mulino Quin­ tero, President of the Republic of Panama, for chairing this meeting, underscoring the profound importance and urgency with which the international community views the challenges to global maritime security. I also thank Mr. Domínguez, Secretary- General of the International Maritime Organization; Mr. Vásquez Morales, Chief Executive Officer of the Panama Canal Authority; and Mr. Urquiza, Secretary Gen­ eral of INTERPOL, for their contributions, which highlight the multifaceted nature of the challenges at hand and the necessity for comprehensive, integrated solutions. For Somalia — and indeed for the entire African continent — the security and sustainable management of our maritime domain are matters of deep significance. Somalia stands as a nation possessing one of the longest coastlines along the mainland of Africa. The security of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea is especially vital, not just for Somalia and our neighbours but for the entire global community. These In that regard, I would like to make the following three points. First, capacity-building and technology transfer are paramount. It is widely recognized that efforts to address maritime threats are most effective when coastal States possess the necessary capacities and capabilities, since they have the primary responsibility. It is essential that such cooperation continues to be strengthened, while fully respecting the sovereignty and leadership of coastal States. Many countries, particularly in Africa, continue to require sustained support to strengthen maritime law enforcement, surveillance and judicial processes. We underscore the importance of tailored training, access to advanced technologies and investment in human and institutional resources. The African Union’s 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy and the Lomé Charter clearly articulate such priorities, serving as important road maps for national and regional resilience. Secondly, we believe that effective maritime security requires a coordinated and holistic approach to addressing root causes. It is imperative to recognize that maritime security is closely linked to sustainable development on land. Poverty and unemployment often serve as significant drivers, pushing individuals, particularly young people, towards criminal activities at sea. Coastal States continue to face an evolving array of risks and threats to maritime security. Among these, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing stands out as having a particularly significant and devastating impact on coastal communities and is also considered one of the root causes of sea piracy. This transnational crime not only depletes vital marine resources but also causes severe degradation and lasting, often irreversible, damage to crucial ocean ecosystems. The pervasive nature of IUU fishing exemplifies how environmental transgressions can directly translate into economic international instability and security vulnerabilities, in particular for ocean-dependent nations. The African Union’s blue economy initiatives, which aim to foster sustainable livelihoods and responsible stewardship of marine resources, represent a critical avenue for addressing the underlying drivers of maritime insecurity. We encourage greater international support for these initiatives, which are vital for ensuring long- term stability at sea and on land. Thirdly, upholding international law remains fundamental. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other relevant instruments provide the legal foundation for the peaceful and cooperative use of our oceans. Respect for these obliga­ tions and for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States is essential for building trust and ensuring effective action. Somalia attaches great importance to the full and effective implementation of these frameworks and encourages continued internation­ al assistance for States working to develop and align national legislation accordingly. In conclusion, my delegation reaffirms its commitment to working constructively with the Security Council and the wider international community to realize the vision of safe, secure and prosperous seas for all.

At the outset, allow me to commend Panama for convening this timely and important meeting and to congratulate Your Excellency President Mulino Quintero for leading today’s debate on maritime security, a cornerstone of the modern interconnected world and a matter of high priority for both of our countries. I also thank Mr. Domínguez, Secretary-General of the International Threats to maritime security are multiplying. In addition to traditional threats — piracy, maritime terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, marine pollution, drug trafficking and migrant smuggling — we now face emerging challenges, such as hybrid threats and attacks on critical maritime infrastructure. These attacks violate freedom of navigation, disrupt global supply chains, jeopardize food and energy security and endanger the lives of seafarers. As a global player in international shipping, Greece is particularly affected by maritime security threats. At the beginning of July, the bloody attacks on the Greek-owned commercial ships MV Magic Seas and MV Eternity C resulted in the death of four seafarers and the sinking of both ships, while at least 10 members of the crew are still being held hostage. Addressing these challenges requires robust international cooperation and the coordination of national, regional and multilateral efforts. A secure maritime domain is essential not only for blue growth and energy security but also for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and upholding international law. In this respect, I wish to highlight four points. First, as reaffirmed during the open debate on maritime security convened by Greece in May (see S/PV.9919), comprehensive strategies are essential to addressing maritime threats effectively. This includes reinforced coordination at all levels — international, regional and national — with active partnerships involving the private sector. Such cooperation must strengthen the resilience of global supply chains and critical infrastructure, including pipelines and submarine cables. Given the significant threat posed by human trafficking and migrant smuggling — including in the Mediterranean, where massive migratory flows are detected — international cooperation must address migration challenges with full respect for international law. It should also target illicit maritime activities, unsafe shipping practices and substandard vessels, which threaten both safety and the marine environment. Secondly, innovation is key. Emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, can greatly enhance maritime security by improving monitoring, information-sharing and operational coordination, provided they are applied in full compliance with international law. Thirdly, capacity-building remains critical. Greece supports efforts by States and international organizations to strengthen law enforcement, promote safe and resilient ports and address cybersecurity risks through the development of digital skills. Greece is actively engaged in the work of the IMO, contributing to the development of rules and standards and to improving capabilities to counter maritime security risks. The European Union (EU), as a global security provider, is implementing its Maritime Security Strategy through concrete actions. Greece participates in EU naval Operations Atalanta in the north-west Indian Ocean, Aspides in the Red Sea and IRINI in the Mediterranean — all aimed at enhancing maritime security. Moreover, climate change and environmental degradation also carry serious security implications for the maritime domain, requiring urgent international attention. Finally, compliance with existing legal frameworks is paramount. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) remains the cornerstone of international maritime governance. Its central and universal role was reaffirmed during our May debate, underscoring that UNCLOS provides the comprehensive framework for addressing both traditional and emerging threats. In conclusion, Greece supports a strengthened role for the United Nations in addressing maritime security challenges. We see a clear need for more structured, coordinated and sustained United Nations engagement to counter these threats

The representative of China has asked for the floor to make a further statement.

I would like to respond to the remarks made by the representative of the United States. In recent times, the United States delegation has repeatedly used various issues to make unwarranted accusations against and smear China. We firmly oppose this. Here, I would like to re-emphasize that regarding the Panama Canal, China has always respected Panama’s sovereignty over the Canal and recognized the permanent neutrality of the Canal as an international waterway. The United States fabrication of lies and groundless attacks against China are nothing but a pretext for seeking control of the Canal. China firmly opposes economic coercion and bullying practices and urges the United States to stop fabricating rumours, lies and creating trouble. I would also like to point out that it is the United States that is the biggest disruptor of peace and stability in the South China Sea. The United States has deployed offensive weaponry in the region, including land-based intermediate-range missiles, has repeatedly dispatched large-scale naval and air forces to conduct reconnaissance and military exercises in the South China Sea and has sought to flex its military muscles and run amok right on the doorstep of other States, with a clear objective of creating instability in the region to advance its own geopolitical agenda. I would also like to point out that the hegemony, cold-war mentality and unilateral actions of the United States are gravely exacerbating risks to global maritime security. The United States has yet to accede to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and refuses to fulfil the obligations under the Convention. It disregards international law and the warnings of the International Seabed Authority by unilaterally deciding to exploit international seabed resources, thereby appropriating the common heritage of humankind. It has openly threatened the normal operation of the Panama Canal and the Suez Canal and has wantonly challenged the sovereignty of other States. It has securitized maritime issues, obstructed the development of maritime infrastructure and undermined the stability of industrial and supply chains. We urge the United States to do some serious soul-searching and to assume in good faith its responsibilities as a major Power.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Panama. As the representative of China mentioned my country and the Canal, I just want to underscore that neutrality, as I said in my statement, is our Canal’s only and best defence against any threat, be it specific or general. Of course, our country’s sovereign use of the canal, both in terms of its ownership and its administration, is protected and overseen by a multilateral treaty that is currently in force. As President of Panama, I want to make that point clear, so that there are no misunderstandings owing to a lack of clarity. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. I give the floor to the representative of India.

We congratulate the Republic of Panama for holding the presidency of the Security Council for this month and we would like to thank you, Your Excellency President Mulino Quintero, for hosting and presiding over this important debate. Maritime security is our collective challenge and demands international collaboration. Given the critical importance of sea routes for global trade, energy supplies, communication cables, traditional and non-traditional threats and our own long-standing maritime tradition, India, as one of the world’s largest economies, has strong stakes and interest in this subject. India’s maritime trading tradition goes back millennia. Ancient Indian port cities, such as Dholavira, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Lothal, were trading with distant lands via maritime routes 5,000 years ago. Indians have traded to their east and west, with Africa, Europe and South-East Asia and beyond, across the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal. Cultural exchange and a diaspora travelled on the ocean waves. Today, India, with a coastline of more than 11,000 kilometres and nearly 1,300 offshore islands and islets, has an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) spread over nearly 2.3 million square kilometres. India shares maritime boundaries with seven nations. There are 12 major ports, 200 smaller ports and nearly 30 shipyards on the Indian coast, continuing a long-standing shipbuilding tradition. India is also the third largest supplier of seafarers to the global maritime industry. A large section of our population resides close to the coast and millions of Indians derive their livelihood from the ocean economy. The scale of maritime safety and security challenges, and also the urgent importance of economic stability and environmental sustainability concerns for India, therefore, are huge. The twin interlinked concerns of security and prosperity provide the basis for India’s vision for maritime security, MAHASAGAR, the Hindi word for ocean, which was elaborated by Prime Minister Modi as mutual and holistic advancement for security and growth across regions. India’s approach to maritime security draws upon the following five principles: the removal of barriers from legitimate maritime trade; the peaceful settlement of disputes, as per international law; jointly addressing natural disasters and threats from non-traditional actors; the preservation of the marine environment and resources; and encouraging responsible maritime connectivity. Recognizing the collective nature of the challenges and the required joint response, we engage with our partners, especially from the global South, in several ways. These are joint patrolling for surveillance of their EEZs; supplementing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief measures; conducting search and rescue and evacuation operations in various emergencies, including oil spill and fires; assisting anti-drug trafficking and anti-piracy operations, in which we have worked with a range of partners; and conducting hydrographic surveys to facilitate navigation safety. The Indian navy, in addition to its role as a net security provider, is also active in the Indo-Pacific region, assisting with security and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, and is among the first responders in the region. India is a founding member of Indian Ocean Rim Association and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) and is an observer at the Indian Ocean Commission. We also engage with a range of partners at other formats such as the Djibouti Code of Conduct, the Contact Group on Illicit Maritime Activities in the Western Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multisectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation. Operational coordination is achieved through joint exercises and coordinated patrols; the Africa-India key maritime engagement exercise; Association of Southeast Asian Nations-India Maritime exercises; the exercise Milan, hosted by India; the In a unique initiative, an Indian naval ship recently served as Indian Ocean Ship Sagar, which sailed with nearly 50 crew from nine partner countries from the Indian Ocean region, undertaking joint maritime security activities. India’s Information Fusion Centre for the Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) focuses on enhancing maritime domain awareness and coordination through information-sharing and cooperation with partners. It has been included as a voluntary reporting centre in best management practices by the International Maritime Organization. IFC-IOR hosts liaison officers from 14 partner nations. An artificial intelligence-powered digital platform, called e-Samudra, will be launched later this year for real-time monitoring and smarter decision-making to enable more efficient and transparent maritime governance. Last month, India launched the PCV Samudra Prachet, its indigenously built pollution control vehicle, highlighting our commitment to maritime environmental protection and sustainable practices. India’s ongoing work on a deep ocean mission will contribute to the understanding of deep-sea ecosystems, contributing to sustainable fisheries and biodiversity conservation. India remains committed to promoting a free, open and rules-based maritime order in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Genuine international cooperation is needed to meet the collective challenges to maritime security and prosperity. As a responsible maritime Power, India stands ready to continue to contribute to these joint efforts.

I now give the floor to the representative of Indonesia.

Indonesia commends the Republic of Panama for convening this important debate and warmly welcomes His Excellency President José Raúl Mulino Quintero. We also thank the briefers for their valuable insights. Since time immemorial, the oceans have been humankind’s lifeline, connecting nations, powering economies and sustaining livelihoods. However, today, the maritime domain is increasingly under siege. With threats ranging from transnational crimes to environmental degradation and heightened geostrategic rivalries, business as usual is no longer an option. It is in this context that Indonesia wishes to underscore three key calls to action. First, we must recommit to the rule of law as our anchor. International law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), is the foundation of order and peaceful conduct of all parties at sea. It is our collective safeguard against disorder that could pose threats to international peace and security. We call upon all Council Members to reaffirm their pledge to uphold UNCLOS. This means resolutely rejecting all unilateral actions that undermine its authority, not just in principle, but in practice. Secondly, we must cultivate the spirit of cooperation at sea. Preventing our oceans from becoming arenas of strategic rivalry, and possible entry points for conflicts, requires a fundamental mindset change. The seas must serve as bridges for dialogue, not front lines for power projection. Regional frameworks, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Outlook on the Indo-Pacific, offer a clear path towards preventive diplomacy to ensure that our oceans serve as zones of peace and collaboration, not confrontation, by promoting areas of cooperation, Thirdly, we must strengthen inclusive maritime governance. Maritime security is not just about deterring threats. It is about building resilience, based upon building trust. Technology and innovation are a critical enabler of resilience, trust-building and mutual progress. Partnership in such areas as satellite-based surveillance to artificial intelligence can enhance monitoring, improve early warning, facilitate joint efforts in addressing transnational organized crime and support sustainable ocean management. This, in turn, serves as a powerful tool to prevent conflicts. We, therefore, encourage greater international cooperation to promote innovation in ways that empower all nations, particularly developing countries, to better build their resilience in addressing emerging challenges. Indonesia stands ready to navigate forward with all partners towards ensuring peaceful, sustainable, just and resilient oceans for humankind.

I now give the floor to the representative of Egypt.

At the outset, I would like to congratulate you, Mr. President, on Panama’s assumption of the presidency of the Council for this month. While we acknowledge the importance that Panama attaches to the issue of maritime security in the Panama Canal, we are equally aware that maritime security is a global concern, spanning continents and geographical regions. We therefore thank the Panamanian presidency for choosing this topic and convening this important and pivotal discussion at a time when the world is facing mounting challenges to maritime security that require concerted international action. The international system is facing mounting challenges as a result of a series of successive crises and the regrettable and persistent conduct of certain Powers that act as if they were above laws and norms, which is detrimental to peace and security efforts, including towards the security of maritime corridors and international navigation, as well as maritime security in our region. This affected the interests of all peoples, without exception. Respect for the treaty-based and customary principles of international law, in particular the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea — the constitution of the seas and oceans and one of the guarantees for maritime security — entails respecting the principles set out in the Convention, including the provisions binding on all parties relating to freedom of navigation and the rules for the delimitation of maritime boundaries. Egypt is of the view that maritime security is a global public good linked to global economic stability, sustainable development and the maintenance of international peace and security. Efforts should be redoubled to achieve maritime security through sustained actions in the following areas. First, the Security Council must fulfil its role of ensuring full compliance with international law and the Council’s resolutions, primarily the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and all conventions governing operations in strategic maritime corridors, so as to ensure freedom of navigation and safe passage in international corridors and waters, free from politicization. Secondly, we must strengthen international and regional coordination frameworks and mechanisms, support capacity-building programmes, develop early-warning systems and promote public-private partnerships in the maritime sector in order to address shared challenges such as piracy, armed robbery, drugs and arms trafficking, human trafficking, illegal fishing, marine pollution, the illegal exploitation of natural resources, the use of maritime corridors to circumvent sanctions, the risk of cyberattacks targeting maritime infrastructure and other criminal activities. Fourthly, we must step up efforts to address the root causes of crises — factoring in the nature, history and realities of each geographical region — with a view to achieving the fair and irreversible settlement of conflicts. The ordeal faced by the Middle East region continues unabated, affecting the security of the Red Sea, as a result of Israel’s inhumane and unjustified war on the Gaza Strip, which defies reason and seeks only to undermine the Palestinian cause. That war has allowed maritime corridors to be exploited by certain non-State actors, impeding freedom of navigation and disrupting global supply chains. Navigation in the Suez Canal has been affected by this regional escalation, resulting in losses of $7 billion in 2024. Nonetheless, Egypt has maintained the Canal’s vital role in global trade and adopted a strategy to ensure its security and transform its economic zone into a global logistics and industrial hub, while pursuing efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region. On this regard and in this forum, Egypt would like to make two key points. First, any initiatives related to maritime security and development in the Red Sea should be devised in close consultation with the coastal States, as they are best placed to understand the dynamics of the region. Secondly, restoring safe navigation in the Red Sea and achieving security for all peoples of the region begins with an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid, the release of the hostages and the prisoners and an end to the quest for occupation and displacement and to the use of Palestinian lives as a bargaining chip. I must also underscore that the factors affecting security and stability in the Red Sea include the ambitions harboured by some parties to gain access to the Red Sea at the expense of its coastal States — ambitions that Egypt rejects as undermining security and stability. We emphasize, in this connection, the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Red Sea. In conclusion, Egypt affirms its support for all genuine efforts to protect vital maritime corridors as a fundamental pillar of international peace and security, to bolster the rule of law in the seas and oceans and to ensure that these passages remain a hub for cooperation, peace and prosperity. As the guardian of the Suez Canal and as a responsible member of the international community, Egypt will continue to play its part in promoting cooperation and securing stability for all.

I now give the floor to the representative of the Philippines.

The Philippines congratulates Panama on assuming the presidency of the Council. We are honoured by its presence and thank our briefers for their insights. As an archipelagic State and a maritime nation, the Philippines considers maritime security a top national policy priority. We understand maritime security as a cross-cutting concern and an integral element of the United Nations peace and security architecture. We hope that this open debate, like the one led by Greece in May (see S/PV.9919), will pave the way not only for enhanced international cooperation on maritime security but also for a re-examination of efforts to address high security risks for people. At home, we have strengthened national frameworks and cooperation. In our region, we are partnering with other States to combat transnational crimes in the maritime domain, including through a trilateral arrangement with neighbours. We are closing criminal corridors, fighting piracy, building capacities, sharing intelligence and countering terrorist travel. We are participating in the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia and are honoured that the Philippines has been re-elected as Chairperson of the Governing Council of its Information Sharing Centre. Through joint exercises and cooperation, we are reinforcing our capacity and response, including in maritime domain awareness, and are contributing to regional stability. As the world’s leading supplier of seafarers, we champion human rights at sea, in cooperation with all stakeholders. Seafarers must be aware of their right to refuse to sail in dangerous areas. We ensure the protection of our seafarers’ welfare and assist them in distress. But security at sea cannot be separated from the health of the sea. Environmental challenges fuel instability. Geopolitical tensions exacerbate environmental harm and adversely affect the implementation of legal frameworks for sustainable use and conservation. The rule of law remains the firm foundation for addressing these challenges. UNCLOS is the constitution of the oceans. The Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction is essential for the oceans and vital to protecting and managing resources in the areas beyond our national jurisdiction that border us — in the South China Sea and in the Pacific. We recognize the synergies between UNCLOS and multilateral environmental agreements on issues within the ocean-climate-biodiversity nexus. We welcome the advisory opinions on climate change issued, respectively, by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and the International Court of Justice. Maritime security concerns are most deeply felt by the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea and in the South China Sea. We recognize the significance of the South China Sea to international trade, which, like the Panama Canal, is vital to global maritime commerce. We aspire for the South China Sea to be a sea of peace, security, stability and prosperity. This is of fundamental interest to the international community. Regrettably, incidents that infringe on our rights and entitlements continue to occur in the South China Sea. We take part in the negotiations on a code of conduct for the South China Sea. We will not waver in advocating for adherence to international law, in particular the Charter of the United Nations, as amplified by the 1982 Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes, and UNCLOS, as clarified by the final and binding 2016 South China Sea Arbitration Award. We will continue to pursue effective diplomacy; leverage alliances, partnerships and multilateralism; and build up domestic capabilities in securing our maritime domain. Maritime security is our shared responsibility and must be addressed comprehensively across the United Nations system for peace, for stability and for generations to come.

Let me begin by congratulating you, Mr. President, on your presidency and thanking you for convening this timely debate. I thank the briefers for their briefings. Croatia aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by the representative of the European Union on behalf of its member States. In my national capacity, I would like to emphasize several key priorities. Maritime security is not merely a regional issue; it is a global imperative. While solutions are best pursued regionally, the threats we face transcend borders. As transnational crime escalates and environmental risks intensify, regional actors must be empowered to respond swiftly and collectively through interoperable protocols, joint training and intelligence-sharing platforms. To prevent illicit use of maritime routes, including piracy, we must strengthen cooperation among coastal States, port authorities and naval forces. Legal frameworks must be enhanced. Real-time communication networks, including vulnerable undersea cables, pose significant risks to security, financial systems and global connectivity. Targeted surveillance of trafficking corridors is essential to disrupt the logistics of illegal trade. Reinforcing the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code is critical for robust and harmonized port safety. We must also embrace innovation. Satellite monitoring can trace vessel movements with precision. Artificial intelligence can detect patterns and anticipate threats before they materialize. Unmanned surface vessels and community-based early warning systems can transform maritime security into a proactive and predictive domain. Yet this is not enough. Greater compliance with maritime law is needed. Strengthening the role of the International Maritime Organization and linking adherence to international frameworks with trade privileges and development support will improve accountability. We must invest in proactive engagement, technical assistance and capacity-building. Real-time risk assessments, multinational rapid response units and standardized contingency protocols can enhance crisis preparedness. Operational coordination and the exchange of best practices are key to more effective cooperation. Securing our oceans also means protecting them. Sustainable ocean governance should balance the promotion of the blue economy with the preservation of fragile marine ecosystems. Ocean-dependent nations require climate-resilient infrastructure and fair access to maritime resources. The recent 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference has laid strong groundwork for this. As a Mediterranean coastal State, Croatia is deeply concerned about the deterioration of the global maritime order. This is most evident in the recent attacks in the Red Sea, which have disrupted international trade and endangered Croatian seafarers, as Croatia is one of Europe’s leading nations in maritime personnel. Croatia prioritizes dialogue and cooperation, particularly with its southern neighbours. Our joint efforts must address maritime insecurity, irregular migration and environmental degradation, while fostering synergy between regional and international organizations.

I now give the floor to the representative of Austria.

Austria sincerely thanks Panama for convening this timely high-level debate and congratulates you, Mr. President, on assuming the Though landlocked, Austria is keenly aware that maritime security is a global concern. Disruptions at sea can reverberate across continents, threatening food and energy security, supply chains and environmental sustainability. The impacts of illicit maritime crime know no borders. Allow me therefore to highlight three points. First, we reaffirm the centrality of international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as the cornerstone of maritime governance. The erosion of international norms, through the evasion of sanctions, illicit trafficking or unlawful exploitation of marine resources, undermines collective security. A rules-based maritime order is our first line of defence against transnational criminal networks. Secondly, we stress the need to enhance international cooperation in combating illicit maritime activities. Organized crime at sea, including the smuggling of arms, narcotics and people, is increasingly sophisticated and transnational in nature. Austria supports efforts by the United Nations and regional organizations to improve monitoring, information-sharing and enforcement capacities. We commend the important role of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and INTERPOL and encourage closer coordination across relevant United Nations bodies. Maritime insecurity is often rooted in vulnerabilities on land — weak governance, corruption, conflict and poverty. Addressing maritime crime requires comprehensive and preventive strategies. This includes building institutions, strengthening legal frameworks and enhancing regional cooperation mechanisms. We welcome innovative approaches, including the responsible use of new technologies, such as satellite monitoring and artificial intelligence, to detect and disrupt criminal activity. Thirdly, we must take into account the environmental dimension of maritime security. Activities such as illegal fishing and the dumping of toxic waste not only violate international law but also jeopardize marine ecosystems and the livelihoods of millions. At the same time, climate change exacerbates existing security risks. Responses to maritime crime must be embedded in broader efforts to protect ocean health and promote sustainable development. Austria’s candidacy for the Security Council for the term 2027–2028 is grounded in its commitment to international law, effective multilateralism and a holistic approach to peace and security. Those principles are essential to confronting emerging maritime threats and ensuring the safety and sustainability of our oceans.

I now give the floor to the representative of Brazil.

Brazil congratulates Panama on assuming the presidency of the Security Council and for convening this debate on maritime security. I also thank the briefers for their valuable insights. With one of the world’s longest coastlines, Brazil’s history, economy and identity are deeply tied to the oceans. Guaranteeing a safe, open maritime space, with governance based on international law, with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea at its centre, is therefore a core national interest. That space, however, faces mounting pressure. Piracy, armed robbery, transnational crime, trafficking in arms and narcotics, and migrant smuggling are converging threats to maritime security. And they are being amplified by the malicious use of new technologies. As we have repeatedly pointed out in the Security Council, there is a direct relation between peace and economic and social development. Addressing the root causes of maritime crime, investing in productive capacities and combating poverty, hunger and underdevelopment are as essential to addressing the issue as security considerations. Brazil sees three urgent priorities in this area. First, there must be unwavering respect for international law and the law of the sea. States must meet their obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, most of which are also part of customary international law. Practical cooperation and capacity-building constitute the second priority. Effective maritime domain awareness relies on real-time information-sharing, interoperable surveillance tools and the responsible integration of emerging technologies. Brazil is ready to deepen partnerships through the zone of peace and cooperation of the South Atlantic (ZPCSA) and through long-standing support to the navies and coastguards of the Gulf of Guinea. Brazil believes that the principles and values enshrined under ZPCSA, which establishes the South Atlantic as a zone of peace, free of weapons of mass destruction and preserved from foreign geopolitical disputes, send a relevant message to today’s world. This message will be reinforced in 2026, when Brazil will host the ninth ministerial meeting to celebrate 40 years of ZPCSA. We call on all countries, in particular those in the Council, to comply with the relevant provisions of the General Assembly resolutions on ZPCSA, thereby contributing to peace, security and development in the South Atlantic and globally. Thirdly, we need a comprehensive approach that links security to sustainable maritime practices. Protecting critical undersea and port infrastructure, strengthening port resilience, enhancing digital skills and countering cyberthreats are mutually reinforcing steps. Oceans governed by law and cooperation are essential for international peace and security and for prosperity. Brazil therefore urges all Member States to renew their commitments to the law of the sea and to the cooperative ethos that it embodies.

There are still a number of speakers remaining on my list for this meeting. I intend, with the concurrence of the members of the Council, to suspend the meeting until 3 p.m.