UAE urges protection of freedom of navigation at UN Security Council open debate

The United Arab Emirates has affirmed the need to secure and protect the flow of supply chains, trade and energy, without any fees, restrictions or obstacles, in accordance with international law, the law of the sea and the sovereignty of states. This came in the statement of the United Arab Emirates delivered by His Excellency Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of State, during the open debate of the UN Security Council, on “Safe Seas and Common Security: Protecting Freedom of Navigation in a Changing Security Environment”. The UAE affirmed in a statement published on the website of the UAE Mission to the United Nations that the security of international supply chains, trade, and energy security is an integral part of maintaining international peace and security, noting that recent developments have proven that any threat to their flow affects food security and fertilisers necessary for agriculture, as well as having serious repercussions on the global economy. It pointed out that while everyone has been affected by these disturbances, the countries of the Global South bear the greatest burden of their repercussions. According to the statement, the World Food Programme estimated that continued disruptions could push up to 45 million more people into acute food insecurity, making populations with no connection to the crisis bear its humanitarian consequences. From this standpoint, the UAE stressed the need to secure and protect the flow of supply chains, trade and energy without any fees, restrictions or obstacles, in accordance with international law, the law of the sea and the sovereignty of states, stressing that otherwise would undermine the rules and principles on which international law and established rules between states are based. In closing, the UAE stressed the importance of supporting all efforts aimed at calming tensions, reducing escalation, and promoting stability in the region, in order to achieve security, peace, and prosperity for its people, expressing its appreciation for the efforts of countries in this regard. The UAE also expressed at the beginning of the statement its appreciation to the Kingdom of Bahrain for its efforts and keenness to keep the issue of maritime security and freedom of navigation at the top of the Security Council’s agenda, and thanked the briefers for their interventions.