Guterres: Navigation disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea threaten global food security
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the impacts of conflicts in various parts of the world are converging on the most vulnerable populations, warning that ongoing attacks and disruptions to navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea are hindering the movement of energy, fertilizers, and essential goods.
In a speech to the United Nations on freedom of navigation, Guterres added that attacks linked to the war in Ukraine are also threatening vital shipping routes for oil, grain, and agricultural exports. He described these crises as “choking the arteries of global trade,” imposing severe pressure on the global food system, leading to rising prices, worsening hunger, declining crop yields, and increased suffering for the most fragile groups.
He noted that transit traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has nearly ground to a halt, while oil prices remain about 33% higher since the conflict began on February 28 last year. Global container shipping costs have risen by 84% compared to the previous year, coinciding with surging fertilizer and other essential input costs.
Guterres said that in March, the UN established a working group to develop practical mechanisms to meet humanitarian needs in the Strait of Hormuz. He pointed out that the group had developed a confidence-building mechanism initially focused on fertilizers and related raw materials, with the potential to expand to include other products.
He clarified that the proposed mechanism does not grant transit permits through the Strait of Hormuz, nor does it alter the rights or obligations of any member state under international law. Instead, the UN would act as a neutral facilitator to reduce immediate risks and support more regular and predictable transit, helping to rebuild the trust necessary for diplomacy and de-escalation.
He stressed that while the mechanism could be activated quickly, its success requires cooperation and political will from the parties involved, emphasizing that it is not a substitute for the full restoration of navigation rights and freedoms, nor for the political solutions needed to end the conflicts.
In response to a question about activating the mechanism, Guterres said that this depends on the agreement of all countries involved in the conflict to accept it. He explained that it would include verification, monitoring, and deconfliction measures to ensure the unhindered flow of covered products.
