Greece calls for stronger global cooperation to tackle maritime terrorism at UN event

July 2 ------ Maritime security has become an integral part of the global security architecture amid increasingly complex threats, Greece’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Aglaia Balta, said during a high-level event on countering terrorism in the maritime sector.

The event, titled “Terrorism and Maritime Insecurity: Collective Efforts to Counter Terrorism in the Maritime Sector,” was held at UN Headquarters on the sidelines of United Nations Counter-Terrorism Week 2026. It was co-organized by the Permanent Missions of Greece and Malta to the UN, the Executive Directorate of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Addressing participants, Balta said that safeguarding freedom of navigation and maritime security is essential to maintaining international peace and security, noting that the maritime sector remains a cornerstone of global trade by enabling the transport of energy, food and other essential goods. She further warned that terrorist organizations and transnational criminal networks are increasingly exploiting vulnerabilities in the maritime domain, with attacks targeting commercial vessels, ports and critical infrastructure.

Such incidents, she said, threaten freedom of navigation, disrupt global supply chains and can have serious humanitarian and environmental consequences for coastal communities. Balta stressed that addressing these risks requires stronger cooperation among governments, international and regional organizations and the private sector, alongside closer engagement with the shipping industry.

She highlighted the growing role of emerging technologies, saying artificial intelligence and other innovations should be incorporated into maritime security strategies while remaining consistent with international law and respect for human rights. Balta further called for enhanced real-time information sharing, stronger cybersecurity, improved port management systems and advanced navigation technologies to better prevent, deter and respond to evolving maritime threats.

Highlighting the human impact of maritime insecurity, Balta said seafarers are often among the first to bear the consequences of attacks on merchant shipping and stressed that their safety and well-being must remain central to international efforts.

Referring to Greece’s position as the operator of the world’s largest merchant fleet, Balta described maritime security as a strategic imperative rather than an abstract policy objective and reaffirmed Greece’s commitment to working with international partners to promote safe, secure and open seas.

Source: safety4sea.com