Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, during the UN Security Council’s high-level open debate on maritime security held on Tuesday in New York, highlighted the strategic importance of maritime security and reaffirmed Greece’s commitment to international cooperation for the promotion of global stability.
The Greek premier underlined that the United Nations is the guardian of the International Convention on the Law of the Sea and the focus of international cooperation.
He stressed that we are increasingly facing asymmetric maritime threats such as smuggling, terrorism, piracy and hybrid attacks which affect both ships and ports.
He also said that rising sea levels and extreme weather conditions can disrupt port operations and sea lanes. Referring to the global nature of the threats, Mitsotakis highlighted that “more than 80% of the world’s trade volume is transported by sea.” He emphasised that maritime security is fundamental to ensuring “political stability, economic stability – including price stability – sustainable development, and the well-being of all people.”
Threats, he said, include “smuggling, terrorism, piracy and hybrid attacks” as well as environmental challenges.
He asserted that addressing these issues requires effective international cooperation, which must occur at the transnational level, involve international organisations, and incorporate the private sector.
Mitsotakis identified awareness and technology, combating illegal practices, capacity building, and strengthening the legal framework as key priorities. He also raised the environmental dimension of the issue and the protection of seafarers.
In conclusion, Mitsotakis emphasised that maritime security is fundamentally connected to the core values of the free world. He reiterated that true freedom of the seas can only be realised under the essential condition of security.
As a maritime nation with the largest merchant fleet in the world, Greece, Mitsotakis said, is committed to remaining the guardian of freedom of navigation in cooperation with all UN member states.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis is accompanied by his wife, Mareva Grabowski Mitsotaki, his son Konstantinos, Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis and the Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations, Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris.
On Tuesday, the Prime Minister is expected also to meet with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
PM’s Mitsotakis full speech is as follows:
Secretary General, Your Excellencies, Dear Colleagues,
|Thank you for joining us here today for this open debate on maritime security.
Let me start by expressing my appreciation for the role of the United Nations in this very important issue. This is the right place to have a discussion on maritime security. The United Nations is at the center of international efforts to protect and preserve our oceans.
It is, as the Secretary General pointed out, the custodian of the International Convention on the Law of the Sea. And it is the locus of international cooperation to address global challenges that affect us all. I would like to personally commend Secretary General Guterres for his tireless efforts on the matter and thank him again for his presence with us today.
Threats to maritime security are, indeed, of global dimension, they affect all nations, whether coastal or landlocked.
As Ms Travlou pointed out, maritime security is critical for the safety of global supply chains: more than 80% of the volume of international trade is carried by shipping. A secure maritime domain promotes global political stability, economic stability, including price stability, sustainable development and the well-being of all peoples.
We are increasingly encountering asymmetrical maritime threats, such as smuggling, terrorism and piracy, but also hybrid attacks which equally affect ships, connections, but also ports.
At the same time, rising sea levels and extreme weather conditions may distort both port operations and shipping routes.
Global problems need global solutions. Threats to maritime security are no different: we can only address them through effective international cooperation, whether at state level, at the level of International Organizations, or at the level of the private sector. It is clear that we need to do more.
Such effort should place emphasis on six key areas:
First, we need to have an increased maritime domain awareness: effective understanding of anything associated with the maritime domain that could impact security, safety, the economy or the marine environment.
This requires that we improve global education and information-sharing mechanisms, that we integrate new technologies to improve our surveillance capabilities, communication and information sharing. Artificial Intelligence should be part of this project, having in mind the potential dangers that it may connote.
Second, we must tackle unsafe and illicit shipping practices that pose a serious threat to global trade but also to the marine environment. These include fraudulent activities related to registration in the maritime sector, substandard shipping, sanctions evasion, but also, phenomena such as shadow fleets, to which Greece, my country, shows no tolerance.
Once again, coordination and prevention are the key issues, in order to improve monitoring and enhance the effective implementation of the relevant international instruments. This macroscopic vision is the only effective one that we have in this respect.
Third, enhancing capacity building, including law enforcement capacities, in the fields of navigation, ports and connectivity, is key to combating security threats.
The Secretary General referred to the situation in the Red Sea. During the last years, it is a typical case of a serious maritime threat that may reasonably result in the increase of prices of essential goods, and this is something that affects all of us. Collective action in these cases is inevitable. My country’s strong engagement in the matter is demonstrated by the leading role Greece has assumed in the EU Naval Operation “ ASPIDES”, but also in the operations “ ATALANTA” and “ IRINI”.
Capacity-building should equally focus on promoting safe and resilient ports, as well as addressing cybersecurity issues. This should include the development of digital skills in the wider range of the maritime cluster including the supply chains.
And, by all means very important, freedom of electricity and data connectivity, via submarine cables, this is something, Mr Secretary General, that should be non-negotiable. For this is a prerequisite for a diversified, high quality, affordable energy and data connectivity. This is a critical issue for the entire world.
Fourth, the reinforcement of the legal framework is essential. In this respect, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) sets out the basis for global governance at sea in order to address current but also emerging security threats. UNCLOS basically reflects international customary law and must be altogether respected.
We also need to further enhance the work of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), especially with reference to international rule-making on the protection of the seas. More effective coordination is required for the various offices currently operating under the auspices of the United Nations, as Mr Bueger pointed out.
Fifth, the environmental dimension, which is also a security challenge: the implications of climate change and environmental degradation multiply existing threats and have wider effects on global stability. We must work to counter marine pollution and the environmental risks to our security posed by illegal dumping, discharges and anthropogenic emissions, in violation of international standards.
The salvage of the tanker M/V Sounion in the Red Sea, last year, was a case in point. One which prevented a huge environmental, but also humanitarian catastrophe, highlighting the global dimension of maritime security and its far-reaching repercussions.
Last year, we hosted in Athens the 9th “ Our Ocean Conference”, whereby more than 100 delegations made over 400 pledges, exceeding 10 billion dollars in value.
And sixth, we should not disregard the need to enhance the protection and security of the two million seafarers, who secure international maritime transport and uninterrupted operation of global trade. As an old maritime motto underlines, without them “ half of the world would freeze, and half of the world would starve”.
Having in mind the recent extreme risks to which they have been exposed, from the pandemic to war hostilities, to terrorist attacks, we must keep in mind that their well-being and their continuous training in new operational modes is necessary for maritime safety.
Dear Colleagues,
Maritime security is directly and closely related to the core values of the free world. No one could really enjoy the well-established principles of the freedom of the seas, nor the related freedom to commerce and trade, ensuring economic and peaceful interconnection, without the prerequisite of maritime security. Today, I am happy to realise, by the wide participation of member states in this debate, that we share the view about its utmost importance.
Greece is the country with the largest merchant maritime fleet in the world. It’s a maritime nation with a rich and deep sea-faring history, thousands of islands, and one of the world’s longest coastlines. Α real cross-trading nation connecting and contributing to the supply of third countries over decades.
For us, Greeks, the sea has always been part of our identity and I’m privileged to be able to participate in this discussion.
Before you, I wish to make the firm commitment that the country I am honored to represent, Greece, will remain the guardian of the freedom of navigation. Hand in hand with all UN nations, we will work together for this very important cause, during our Security Council tenure and beyond.
