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.

New Council Members Maritime Expertise

Incoming council members bring diverse yet complementary maritime perspectives. Greece is a shipping superpower, controlling over 17% of global maritime carrying capacity, and lists maritime security as one of its stated priorities during its council membership. Denmark, home to Møller-Maersk, the world’s largest container shipping company, has demonstrated consistent leadership in counter-piracy initiatives through its contributions to multinational operations and capacity-building efforts. Panama, as the world’s premier flag state, represents approximately 16% of global shipping, and brings important expertise in maritime administration and regulation, but also the challenges faced by small island states.

Somalia brings crucial firsthand experience in maritime security challenges, having transformed from the epicenter of Indian Ocean piracy to a partner in regional maritime security. This remarkable transformation, achieved through international cooperation and capacity building, offers valuable lessons for addressing maritime security challenges elsewhere. Pakistan contributes significant naval capabilities and has established a strong record of maritime security operations in the western Indian Ocean, including leadership roles in multinational task forces and regional security initiatives.

UNIDIR Research on Maritime Challenges

The maritime domain faces increasing volatility and emerging threats that require coordinated international responses. Recent research from the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) has identified 20 critical challenges that will determine the future of security at sea. These range from immediate threats, such as the proliferation of low-cost weapon systems, the return of sea mine risks, and maritime cyberattacks, to emerging challenges, such as securing green energy infrastructure at sea and protecting subsea data cables.

The research also highlights novel concerns, including the rise of “shadow fleets” used for sanctions evasion; the increasing use of civilian vessels for military purposes; and the complex intersection of maritime and outer space security. Environmental challenges feature prominently, from enforcing the new high seas treaty and protecting marine areas to addressing the maritime security implications of climate change, particularly for small island states. The challenges also include human security dimensions such as Indigenous Peoples’ rights and human rights at sea.

Steps for Strengthening Global Maritime Security Governance

If the five new maritime members act concertedly through their presidencies, the council could follow up the discussion on establishing a dedicated maritime security mechanism, as was debated in 2021 under the presidency of India. Such a mechanism could aid in coordinating responses to urgent maritime security challenges across the UN system, feeding essential expertise into decision making and developing long-term comprehensive strategies for addressing emerging threats.

As first steps, the council could establish a dedicated committee—utilizing organizational frameworks similar to those employed by its Counter-Terrorism Committee—and request a report by the secretary-general to develop options for a UN maritime security strategy and office. This would significantly enhance rapid and early response to maritime security incidents, enhance information sharing among member states, and contribute to the development of guidelines for UN-flagged maritime security operations.

A recent report from the Department of Peacekeeping Operations highlights the potential value of UN-flagged maritime operations. Such initiatives could address ongoing maritime security challenges in regions like the Red Sea and the Gulf of Guinea, where coordinated international responses are essential. The success of previous UN-backed maritime security initiatives, such as the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, demonstrates the potential for effective multilateral responses to maritime threats.

The council’s unique composition could facilitate the development of innovative approaches to maritime security cooperation. This might include establishing new frameworks for protecting critical maritime infrastructure, developing international standards for maritime cybersecurity, and creating formats for coordinating responses to environmental threats in the maritime domain. By leveraging the diverse expertise and experiences of its members, the Security Council could begin to create a more secure and sustainable maritime order.

Christian Bueger is a research fellow at UNIDIR and a professor of international relations at the University of Copenhagen. A version of this article was first published by UNIDIR.