The United Nations Security Council recently held an open debate on strengthening maritime security, with discussions led by the President and contributions from Secretary-General António Guterres, Ms. Melina Travlos, and Mr. Christian Bueger. The United States expressed its agreement with Greece on the critical importance of this issue for international peace and security.
In his remarks, a U.S. representative highlighted several threats to maritime security, including those posed by terrorist groups such as the Houthis. These groups have disrupted maritime traffic in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, impacting 30 percent of global container traffic. The U.S., under President Trump's direction, has taken measures to defend freedom of navigation against these threats.
The representative also addressed concerns about certain countries that support terrorist activities or use coercion to disrupt trade routes. Iran was cited for its defiance of UN arms embargoes and unlawful actions against commercial vessels. The U.S. called for the release of seized vessels like MSC Aries and Advantage Sweet.
China's actions in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait were also criticized, with calls for China to abide by international rulings and cease obstructive behaviors.
The debate emphasized international cooperation in improving maritime security. The U.S. noted the effectiveness of mechanisms like the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism (UNVIM) in preventing arms from reaching hostile groups via maritime routes.
Collaboration between various organizations was acknowledged, including efforts by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime with Malta's Global Centre for Maritime Sanctions Monitoring to enhance capacity building among Member States.
The Registry Information Sharing Compact (RISC), formed by Panama, Liberia, and the Marshall Islands' flag registries, was praised for combating illicit practices such as "flag hopping." This initiative currently includes 15 shipping registries representing a significant portion of global tonnage.
The United States reiterated its gratitude to Greece for initiating this important discussion on countering maritime security threats.