Kuwait: Protection of sea lanes is a collective responsibility

Kuwait has stressed the necessity of the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), which condemns Iran’s heinous attacks on the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Jordan. It emphasized the 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 statement was made by Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Tariq Al-Banna, during an evening address on Thursday at a high-level open debate convened by the Security Council on “Emerging Technologies and Maritime Security.”

Ambassador Al-Banna stated, “Protecting sea lanes is a collective responsibility that allows no room for selectivity or double standards.” He reaffirmed the necessity of adhering to international law and ensuring freedom of navigation in strategic maritime routes. 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 pointed out that the Arabian Gulf region has witnessed heinous Iranian attacks this year targeting the territories of GCC countries and Jordan, as well as their vital installations, alongside attacks on oil tankers and ships, including Kuwaiti vessels, which have 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 and maritime threats poses a direct danger to the security of states and the stability of the global economy.

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

Regarding emerging technologies, Ambassador Al-Banna noted that threats, once 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.