Kuwait stresses necessity of halting attacks and threats hindering freedom of navigation in Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab straits

New York, October 30 (KUNA) – The State of Kuwait stressed the necessity of the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), which condemns Iran’s culpable attacks on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Jordan. It reaffirmed the urgent need to put an end to all attacks and threats that obstruct legitimate transit and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz or undermine maritime security in the Bab al-Mandab.

This was stated in a speech delivered by Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Tariq Al-Banna, yesterday evening, Thursday, at a high-level open debate held by the Security Council on “Emerging Technologies and Maritime Security: Implications for International Peace and Security.”

Ambassador Al-Banna said that protecting sea lanes is a collective responsibility that allows for no selectivity or double standards, emphasizing the necessity of adhering to international law and ensuring freedom of navigation in strategic maritime passages. In this regard, he called for strengthening international cooperation and establishing responsible controls on the use of emerging technologies to contribute to the protection of maritime navigation and the preservation of international peace and security.

He noted that the Arabian Gulf region witnessed, during the current year, culpable Iranian attacks targeting the territories of the GCC countries and Jordan, as well as their vital facilities, alongside attacks on oil tankers and ships, including Kuwaiti vessels, which threatened the safety of navigation in strategic sea lanes. He clarified that the use of modern technologies, particularly drones and advanced missiles, in military attacks has turned maritime threats into a direct danger to the security of states and the stability of the global economy.

He warned that targeting commercial ships or disrupting navigational passages does not only affect the ships or passages themselves, but also extends to global supply chains, energy and food prices, and the stability of economies, particularly those of developing countries that are more dependent on maritime trade.

Regarding emerging technologies, Ambassador Al-Banna said that threats previously confined to piracy and direct attacks on ships have now expanded to include drones, autonomous systems, and cyberattacks on ships, ports, and navigation and communication networks. He added that while these technologies offer opportunities to enhance the efficiency and safety of maritime transport, they have also enabled state and non-state actors to threaten international navigation at a low cost, with impacts that may transcend national and regional borders.

He warned that artificial intelligence, which contributes to improving risk monitoring and prediction and enhancing navigation safety, could also be used to carry out more complex cyberattacks, operate autonomous systems without any effective human oversight, or disseminate misleading information that disrupts navigation movements and exacerbates tensions.

He stressed the need to keep pace with technological developments through clear international frameworks and responsible controls that prevent the misuse of modern technologies or their employment to infringe upon state sovereignty and the safety of maritime navigation. In this context, he called for expanding international cooperation, exchanging information and expertise, and developing the technical capabilities necessary to protect ships, ports, and maritime infrastructure from cyberattacks and non-traditional threats.

He urged support for the role of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), capacity-building for developing countries, and ensuring the safe and responsible use of autonomous systems while maintaining human responsibility and accountability.

Ambassador Al-Banna concluded his speech by stating that technological progress should serve as a means to enhance security and stability, not as a tool to expand the scope of conflicts or threaten international trade.

He emphasized that the success of the international community is measured by its ability to prevent the misuse of technology, protect lives and sea lanes, and prevent the seas from becoming new arenas for conflict. (End) A.S.T./M.A.H.A.