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 “MARITIME SECURITY: PREVENTION, INNOVATION, AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION TO ADDRESS EMERGING CHALLENGES”, 11 AUGUST 2025

Mr President, 

I thank Panama for convening this important high-level debate and express my appreciation to the briefers for their valuable insights. Like Panama, Singapore is a small country that is located at the crossroads of global maritime routes. It should come as no surprise that Singapore attaches the greatest importance to maritime security. Allow me to offer our perspectives on this issue.

2 Firstly, the upholding of international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes is absolutely non-negotiable. Since the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) was adopted in 1982, UNCLOS has become the cornerstone of ocean governance. As is reflected 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. All maritime claims must be in accordance with UNCLOS, and all freedoms, rights and obligations set out in UNCLOS must be respected and adhered to. Any attempt to reinterpret or selectively apply UNCLOS risks undermining the legal stability that the global maritime community relies on.

3 Second, we must work together to preserve open sea lines of communication and the freedom of navigation. This means cooperating to contain the spillover effects of regional conflicts and the transboundary threat of piracy. For example, a coordinated international response is essential to address the attacks by the Houthi forces on vessels in the Red Sea, which have disrupted trade and threatened the freedom of navigation. 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 (CMF). We have also participated in multinational counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden with the CMF. In addition, Singapore has hosted the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) Information Sharing Centre (ISC) since 2006. The ISC allows for rapid information sharing and timely responses to maritime incidents within our region. We have also hosted the INTERPOL Global Complex since 2015, supporting INTERPOL’s regional efforts in a globalised crime landscape, which includes addressing maritime criminal networks. 

4 Third, we must guard against emerging threats. Cyber-attacks pose serious risks to our global maritime infrastructure. A secure and resilient rules-based cyberspace is a core part of the maritime security landscape, requiring cooperation at all levels to set robust norms and build capacity. 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 for Strengthening Resilience and Repair of Submarine Cables in order to fortify our regional submarine cable network.  

Mr President,

5 Singapore stands ready to work with the international community to address global maritime security challenges, to ensure the continued peace, stability and freedom of our oceans.

I thank you. 

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