MUSCAT : This affirmation was outlined during a speech delivered by His Excellency Ambassador Omar bin Saeed Al Kathiri, Permanent Representative of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations, during the high-level session of the UN Security Council on ‘Strengthening Maritime Security through International Cooperation for Global Stability’ held in New York.

Ambassador Al Kathiri underscored Oman’s historical and strategic role in securing international waterways, which he described as vital arteries for global trade and energy supply. He reiterated that Oman has consistently aligned its national legislation with international frameworks, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which guarantees freedom of navigation and establishes the legal foundations for resolving maritime disputes.

His Excellency explained that the Sultanate of Oman recently hosted the eighth edition of the Indian Ocean Conference, which focused on ways to enhance cooperation and integration in maritime security management, based on the belief in the importance of joint regional action.

He pointed out that the Sultanate of Oman firmly believes that the security of maritime and waterway security is one of the fundamental pillars of preserving regional and international stability, ensuring freedom of navigation, the continuity of global trade, safeguarding food and energy security, and promoting sustainable development.

He further explained that the escalation of transnational threats, such as maritime terrorism, piracy, human and drug smuggling, organised criminal activities, and illicit trafficking, along with the environmental repercussions resulting from climate change and attacks on maritime infrastructure, requires well-thought-out collective responses that reflect the spirit of cooperation and shared responsibility enshrined in the United Nations Charter.

His Excellency addressed the pivotal role played by the Sultanate of Oman in mediating the ceasefire agreement announced on May 6, 2025, to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. This represents a constructive step through which the Sultanate of Oman seeks to defuse regional tensions, enhance maritime stability, and ensure the smooth flow of international shipping.

He highlighted Oman’s commitment to strengthening compliance with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, as the comprehensive legal framework for all activities in the seas and oceans. He also emphasised the need for full implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions and cooperation with the International Maritime Organisation and other relevant bodies.

His Excellency pointed out the need to build national capacities in developing countries, particularly in the areas of maritime surveillance, information exchange, emergency response, infrastructure protection, and combating organised crime, through well-thought-out collective initiatives and effective partnerships.

He noted that modern technology is an important tool for enhancing maritime domain awareness and improving countries’ ability to respond to challenges in a timely manner, through the use of satellites, data analysis, and artificial intelligence. He also addressed the worsening effects of climate change and environmental degradation, which are multipliers of maritime security risks. He called on the international community to develop integrated international strategies to protect the marine environment, and underscored the importance of constructive dialogue and preventive diplomacy as a means of achieving collective security, settling disputes, building trust between nations, and providing a safe and stable environment for maritime, commercial, and economic activities.

His Excellency concluded his speech by emphasising Oman’s foreign policy principles of good neighbourliness, non-interference, and respect for international law. He pledged that Oman would continue to act as a responsible partner in safeguarding maritime security and supporting global efforts to ensure peace, stability, and prosperity across international waters.

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