UN Chief Emphasizes Maritime Security’s Link to Global Stability Amid Rising Threats
UNITED NATIONS – UN Secretary-General António Guterres on May 21, 2025, addressed the UN Security Council, underscoring the critical link between maritime security and global stability. Speaking at a session chaired by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Guterres highlighted escalating threats to the world’s oceans, warning of cascading consequences for international peace and prosperity.
Guterres noted that maritime spaces, vital for global trade, are under unprecedented strain. Traditional challenges like territorial disputes are now compounded by a significant resurgence of piracy. Data from the International Maritime Organization shows a troubling 47.5% increase in reported piracy and armed robbery incidents in the first quarter of 2025 compared to last year.
Specific concerns were raised regarding critical waterways such as the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, where Houthi attacks on commercial shipping have disrupted supply chains and heightened regional tensions. The Mediterranean Sea and Gulf of Aden also remain perilous corridors for human trafficking, smuggling, and illicit arms trade.
Guterres attributed these challenges to broader systemic failures, where geopolitical rivalries threaten to erode the rule-based order governing maritime spaces. He called for unified action to address root causes, including climate-driven resource scarcity and weak governance, emphasizing, “without maritime security, there can be no global security.” He pledged UN support for member states to build resilient, cooperative systems, urging international solidarity to protect maritime spaces and dependent communities.
