STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR BURHAN GAFOOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS (UN) AT THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL HIGH-LEVEL OPEN DEBATE ON “STRENGTHENING MARITIME SECURITY THROUGH INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION FOR GLOBAL STABILITY”, 20 MAY 2025

Mr President, 

We join others in thanking Greece for convening this important and timely high-level debate. Since the adoption of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982, UNCLOS has become the cornerstone of ocean governance. Singapore’s position on UNCLOS is well-known. It is the constitution for the oceans and it sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out.  

2 As an international maritime and shipping hub, maintaining open sea lines of communication is paramount for Singapore. Allow me to offer our perspective on these issues. 

3 First, geostrategic contestation has increasingly led to incidents at sea between competing naval forces. As stated in the Pact for the Future, all efforts to address maritime security threats must be carried out in accordance with international law, as reflected in the UN Charter and UNCLOS, alongside relevant instruments consistent with UNCLOS. All maritime claims must be in accordance with the relevant rules of UNCLOS, which are comprehensive, and all freedoms, rights and obligations set out in UNCLOS must be respected and adhered to. Any attempt to reinterpret or selectively apply UNCLOS runs the risk of undermining the legal stability that the global maritime community relies upon. 

4 Second, regional conflicts can spill over to surrounding maritime areas. For example, the attacks by the Houthi forces on vessels in the Red Sea have disrupted trade and threatened the freedom of navigation. During such crises, a coordinated international response is essential to restore the free flow of shipping. To this end, Singapore participated in Operation Prosperity Guardian in the Red Sea in 2024, as a member of the 46-nation Combined Maritime Forces, or CMF. 

5 Third, piracy remains a scourge of the seas. Given the transboundary nature of piracy, multilateral cooperation is crucial. Singapore has participated in multinational counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden with the CMF. Regionally, we host the ReCAAP  Information Sharing Centre and the Information Fusion Centre, which enable rapid information sharing to respond to incidents at sea. Singapore also supports capacity-building for coastal states to enhance maritime domain awareness and response capabilities.

6 Finally, we must guard against emerging threats. Cyber-attacks pose serious risks to our global maritime infrastructure. A secure and resilient rules-based cyberspace is key to maritime security. International cooperation is necessary to set robust norms and standards. Damage to subsea cable networks can also disrupt connectivity. Annually, there are between 150 to 200 submarine cable incidents worldwide, with over 50 cable cuts in the Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean. Governments must work with industry to strengthen cooperation and adopt international best practices for cable protection and repairs. In our region, ASEAN is working to update the 2019 ASEAN Guidelines and fortify our regional submarine cable network.  

Mr President, 

9 These complex maritime security challenges demand that we act together, to ensure the continued peace, stability and freedom of our oceans.

I thank you. 

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