Mr. President,
We extend warm felicitations to the Republic of Greece on its Presidency of the Council and thank the Hellenic Republic for organizing this high-level open debate on strengthening maritime security through international cooperation for global stability.
Mr. President,
Liberia, as one of the world’s leading maritime nations with the largest ship registry globally, recognizes that the seas are not only conduits of commerce but also vital arteries of global peace and prosperity. As a flag state of choice for thousands of vessels, Liberia continues to honor its responsibility to ensure the safety, security, and sustainability of international maritime operations.
However, Liberia recognizes that maritime security challenges transcend borders. From piracy in the Gulf of Guinea to illicit trafficking in the Caribbean, from unregulated fishing off the West African coast to cyber threats targeting global shipping infrastructure—no nation is truly spared or can address these threats in isolation. Rather than divide us, the oceans unite us and again underscores the critical importance of multilateral cooperation and capacity-building. Liberia understands that security of the maritime domain must be underpinned by shared intelligence, joint patrols, harmonized legal frameworks, and international coordination through bodies such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and regional coalitions like the Yaoundé Architecture in the Gulf of Guinea.
Hotspots like the Gulf of Guinea, the Red Sea, and parts of Southeast Asia remain areas of concern. These regions demand urgent and coordinated responses—not only to address piracy and armed robbery but to tackle root causes such as poverty, weak governance, and environmental degradation.
Mr. President:
Maritime insecurity threatens global connectivity. The lack of global connectivity threatens commerce, which in turn threatens economies and consequently people’s lives and livelihoods. It is, therefore, everybody’s business.
Liberia continues to invest in the strengthening of port security, maritime law enforcement, and digital registries to combat illegal activities at sea. We are also actively engaged with international partners to support a secure and sustainable maritime governance in West Africa and beyond.
This open debate has been a call to action to which Liberia reaffirms its commitment to work alongside this Council and all nations to uphold international maritime law, strengthen regional cooperation, and safeguard the maritime domain for future generations.
Thank you.
