If the safety of maritime transport is not guaranteed, jeopardize world trade. It has underlined yesterday the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, speaking at a high-level debate level of the UN Security Council. "For some time "In time immemorial," he said, "sea routes connect the world. But maritime spaces are increasingly under pressure, and Without maritime security, there can be no global security." Guterres specified that maritime spaces are suffering from a Increasing pressure from both traditional and new threats dangers, including piracy, armed robbery, trafficking Crimes, terrorism, cyberattacks and litigation Territorial.

Citing data from the Global Integrated Shipping Information System of the International Maritime Organization, which report 60 incidents caused by acts of piracy and robberies against ships that took place in the first quarter of 2025 compared to 41 in the same period of 2025. last year, the UN Secretary-General specified that The increase in accidents was most pronounced in Asia, especially in the busy Straits of Malacca and Singapore. In addition, he added, attacks on ships in the Sea continue and in the Gulf of Aden by Houthi forces, so such as disruptions to maritime traffic in the Black Sea and the growth of criminal networks trafficking drugs and people through the Gulf of Guinea, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.

In his speech, Guterres outlined a three-point strategy fronts to strengthen maritime security, highlighting that it is important to Decisive and coordinated global action is needed, independently from individual outbreaks or episodic transport disruptions maritime. The strategy is based on respect for the law on addressing the root causes that lead to maritime security and on strengthening partnerships Global. Regarding the root causes, Guterres urged investments in coastal communities, reform and maritime capacity building in the Developing countries, from surveillance to security harbour.

In addition, Guterres called on all nations to respect the international law, in particular the Convention of Nations United States on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the international treaty that sets out the legal framework for all maritime activities and regulates the use of the oceans and their resources. "This framework," he specified, "is strong only to the extent that the States are committed to its full and effective implementation".

Al dibattito è intervenuta anche Melina Travlos, President of the Union of Greek Shipowners, who launched a Warning: If the global maritime system comes to a halt - he warned - The world economy will collapse in just 90 days. Highlighting that "maritime transport unites the world, not occasionally, but constantly", Travlos urged a Enhanced protection of seafarers and maritime infrastructure in a context of growing and more complex threats.

Christian Bueger, Professor of International Relations at the University of Copenhagen, recalled that since the 90s maritime trade has increased in the last century +300%: "Never before in history - he underlined - We have been as dependent on the sea as we are today." Bueger urged UN member states to adopt a more systematic and evidence-based approach, urging an interconnected global response as follows: as are the threats that must be addressed.