Kuwait: Iran's Closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Obstruction of Navigation in the Bab al-Mandab Affect Global Food Security

Kuwait has reiterated its condemnation of Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and threats to freedom of navigation therein, as well as the continued obstruction of navigation in the Bab al-Mandab through its proxies in the region, warning of the repercussions of these practices on global food security, the flow of essential goods, and rising transportation and insurance costs.

This statement was made in Kuwait’s address delivered by Diplomatic Attaché Dalal Sharar before the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) of the United Nations General Assembly, during the discussion of the agenda items “Eradication of Poverty” and “Agricultural Development, Food Security and Nutrition.”

Sharar called for the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 2817, and urged Iran to immediately cease acts and threats that obstruct legitimate transit passage or freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, or threaten maritime security in the Bab al-Mandab, in accordance with international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. She emphasized that the world is facing interconnected challenges affecting global food security, ranging from climate change and water scarcity to disruptions in supply chains caused by threats to vital waterways.

In this context, Sharar warned of the persistence and worsening of the hunger crisis, despite a global decline in hunger rates to 7.8% in 2025, noting that this improvement varies across regions. She pointed out that approximately 292 million people in Asia suffer from hunger, while Africa now hosts the largest number of hungry people in the world, at around 309 million, representing nearly one-fifth of the continent’s population. She stressed the need to direct support and resources to the most vulnerable areas and to strengthen their resilience against successive shocks.

Regarding the situation in the Gaza Strip, Sharar expressed Kuwait’s strong condemnation of the occupying Israeli entity’s use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, affirming that this practice is prohibited by international humanitarian law and condemned by the Security Council in its Resolution 2417.

She concluded her address by reaffirming Kuwait’s position that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, and ending hunger, remain shared priorities and pillars of sustainable development and human dignity. She called for intensified international efforts to achieve fair and inclusive development, provide sustainable financing, protect the environment, strengthen social protection, and build resilient food systems.

On another note, Kuwait emphasized the importance of the role played by UN Special Political Missions as a key tool for preventive diplomacy, conflict prevention and peaceful settlement, and for supporting peacebuilding efforts and its sustainability.

This was stated in Kuwait’s address delivered by Diplomatic Attaché Abdulaziz Al-Humaidan before the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) of the UN General Assembly, during the discussion of the item concerning Special Political Missions.

Al-Humaidan stressed the necessity of enabling these missions to efficiently and effectively carry out their mandates by providing the necessary financial and human resources commensurate with the nature of their tasks and the challenges they face, while adhering to the principles of transparency, accountability, and sound resource management. He underscored the importance of striking a balance between the tasks and responsibilities assigned to Special Political Missions and the resources allocated to them, ensuring the sustainability of their operations and their capacity to respond to evolving challenges.