Qatar calls for stronger maritime security and technology to promote global peace
<p>New York: The State of Qatar has stressed the need to place maritime security at the heart of joint international efforts and harness technological innovation to promote international peace and security.</p> <p>This came in a statement delivered by HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, during a high-level open debate of…
New York: Qatar has emphasized the critical importance of strengthening maritime security and leveraging technological advancements to foster global peace and stability. This message was conveyed by HE Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani, Qatar’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, during a UN Security Council debate on the impact of emerging technologies on maritime security.
Qatar underscores maritime security as a cornerstone of international peace, recognizing that advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, and sophisticated surveillance can significantly enhance maritime safety. However, these technologies can also be misused, jeopardizing commercial shipping, critical maritime infrastructure, and overall trade security.
Recent developments in the Middle East, especially in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, have underscored the severe repercussions of threats to maritime security and freedom of navigation. Qatar is resolute in its commitment to full adherence to international law and Security Council Resolution 2817, which safeguards navigational rights and freedoms.
Qatar vehemently opposes the use of the Strait of Hormuz as a tool for political leverage and calls for its immediate and unconditional reopening. This stance is rooted in the principle that freedom of navigation and transit passage through this crucial waterway are non-negotiable and firmly established under international law.
The Permanent Representative stressed that the responsible deployment of emerging technologies in the maritime sphere must strictly comply with international law, including the UN Charter and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. This deployment should be underpinned by robust safeguards, effective human oversight, and clear accountability.
Qatar advocates for bolstering cybersecurity measures, safeguarding maritime navigation and communications systems, and enhancing information-sharing and early warning systems. The nation also emphasizes the importance of ensuring that developing countries share equitably in the benefits of technological progress, through technical assistance, capacity-building, and collaborative efforts with the private sector and the maritime transport industry.
Qatar recognizes the Security Council’s pivotal role in tackling these maritime security challenges within its jurisdiction. It echoes the importance of the Council’s August 2021 presidential statement on maritime security and its October 2024 presidential statement on the consideration of scientific developments. The credibility of the Security Council hinges on its consistent implementation of resolutions and its impartial response to threats to maritime security.
Qatar remains an active participant in the International Maritime Organization, including its Maritime Safety Committee meetings. The nation underscores the necessity of ensuring the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters, and pledges its support to international endeavors aimed at aiding ships and seafarers in distress at sea.
Written by urgent.news from The Peninsula Qatar's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
