Transport Minister to address debate on maritime security at UN Security Council

Transport Minister, Alexis Vafeades, is taking part in a high-level open debate on 'Strengthening Maritime Security through International Cooperation for Global Stability', at the United Nations Security Council.

The 20 May event is organised by Greece, who is presiding over the Security Council in May. The maritime security debate will be chaired by the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Minister Vafeades is expected to deliver a statement during the Security Council meeting under Rule 37, which allows UN Member States to intervene in debates when they wish to express their views on the topic under discussion. He will be accompanied by Cyprus' Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Maria Michael.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres will brief the Council, with keynote speakers including Melina Travlos, President of the Union of Greek Shipowners, and Professor Christian Bueger of the University of Copenhagen and researcher at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), who specialises in international security issues.

It is noted that the session aims to foster a strategic exchange of views among Member States on addressing rising maritime security threats in a holistic manner—such as piracy, transnational organised crime, the illicit trafficking of arms, narcotics, and people, illegal fishing, human trafficking, terrorist acts, and attacks on critical maritime infrastructure.

There will be a focus on strengthening international cooperation (including partnerships) for maritime domain awareness, capacity building, the use of new technologies, coordination of surveillance tools, and information sharing. Risk management, coordination of actions to protect critical infrastructure, resilience building, and timely responses will also be discussed. The consequences of climate change on maritime security and the environmental impact of illegal activities will be addressed.

Particular emphasis will be placed on the full implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions by all UN Member States and on the need to uphold international obligations to combat maritime threats.

Central to the discussion will be key questions regarding the implementation of international legal frameworks such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the prioritisation of capacity-building needs, and the role of technology in countering organised maritime crime.

(Source: CNA)