A satellite image captures the port congestion around Singapore resulting from irregular ship schedules linked to the Red Sea crisis, June 3, 2024. (Photo by Gallo Images/Orbital Horizon/Copernicus Sentinel Data 2024)

This year’s composition of the United Nations (UN) Security Council presents a unique opportunity to address global maritime security. Five new additions to the council—Denmark, Greece, Panama, Pakistan, and Somalia—bring with them maritime expertise and strategic interests. Together with the five permanent members—China, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Russia, which are all established maritime powers with a global naval presence—these ten members represent major shipping nations, flag states, naval powers, and states with maritime security experience. This effectively establishes a de facto Maritime Security Council, offering a chance to overcome the council’s gridlock and drive unified strategic responses.

Maritime security is a shared global priority, as all nations depend on secure sea lanes and ocean health for their economic wellbeing. While differences exist within the council, including around the interpretation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, maritime security challenges could provide common ground for cooperation. Recent escalations of maritime threats—attacks on commercial shipping, critical infrastructure breakdowns, and environmental degradation—demonstrate that no nation can ensure maritime security alone. Read more