With a range of maritime security challenges and crises on the rise, it is encouraging to see the UN Security Council continuing its discussions on security at sea.

On Thursday, 17.9., the Kingdom of Bahrain convened an Arria-formula meeting on safe seas and freedom of navigation. More than 50 representatives took the floor, underscoring that maritime security remains high on the agenda. The crisis in the Strait of Hormuz received particular attention.

I had the pleasure of addressing the Security Council during the meeting. I stressed the need to look beyond the current crisis in the Strait of Hormuz and maintain a long-term strategic outlook.

Identifying platforms for dialogue on responsible behaviour at sea amid increasingly widespread grey-zone actions, and guiding the UN response in the right direction, will be key. A stronger, evidence-based, forward-looking approach is needed.