United Nations, — While maintaining that oceans must be preserved as arenas for cooperation and shared prosperity, not as theatres of strategic rivalry, Pakistan has stated that one major country, which is driven by aspirations of unchecked regional hegemony, has demonstrated a troubling pattern of behavior marked by aggressive naval expansion and attempts to assert dominance over critical waterways.

Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, made these remarks in a national statement at the Security Council High-Level Open Debate on Strengthening Maritime Security through International Cooperation for Global Stability.

He said that the destabilizing and dangerous naval build-up is accompanied by coercive diplomacy and the systematic exclusion of neighboring states from regional maritime security frameworks, including the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). He stated that such actions undermine the maritime balance and restrict the space for inclusive cooperation.

The Pakistan UN Ambassador further stated that the same country has also displayed a concerning propensity to usurp and weaponize shared natural resources — including trans-boundary rivers — in flagrant breach of treaty obligations and the principles of good neighborliness.

He said that these actions reflect a broader agenda of leveraging geography to disrupt and destabilize long-standing cooperative arrangements, particularly to the detriment of the lower riparian state that is Pakistan, and impose unilateral outcomes, in both riverine and maritime spheres.

Ambassador Asim said that as a maritime nation, Pakistan views the Arabian Sea as its “fifth neighbor,” integral to its economic vision and strategic orientation, adding that Pakistan’s unique geographical positioning offers significant potential to serve as a regional trans-shipment hub, enabling trade and connectivity for landlocked Central Asian countries.

He said that as a coastal state that is strategically located in the northern Arabian Sea – at the confluence of critical international sea lanes – Pakistan attaches the highest importance to a safe and secure maritime domain that is governed by international law.

“Our national security, economic resilience, regional connectivity, and food and energy security are inextricably linked to the sustainability and openness of our seas,” he explained.

Referring to contemporary maritime threats, he said that these threats are multifaceted and trans-national, which range from piracy, terrorism, and trafficking of arms and narcotics, to cyber vulnerabilities in port infrastructure, marine pollution, and the escalating climate-induced risks to coastal zones.

He said that confronting these challenges necessitates collective and coordinated action firmly anchored in international law.

He said that maritime security is inseparable from the broader cause of international peace and stability and highlighted the need for collectively rejecting any attempts to instrumentalize maritime spaces for political or strategic leverage. He called for reaffirming our commitment to multilateralism, equity, and cooperation as the foundation for a secure and sustainable maritime future.

Pakistan also unequivocally condemned attacks on commercial shipping and maritime vessels in the Red Sea, which threaten global trade, destabilize region and jeopardize global maritime security.

Ambassador Asim however noted the Secretary-General’s most recent report, confirming no recent Houthi attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea.

He also drew the attention of the world community to the urgent need of addressing the growing climate-related risks facing our maritime and coastal systems. He said that rising sea levels, acidification, and coastal erosion pose serious threats to livelihoods, ecosystems, biodiversity, and maritime stability. Any holistic maritime security strategy must incorporate the climate-ocean nexus and ensure equitable access to marine resources, he suggested.

“Pakistan stands ready to work with all countries to protect the integrity of the maritime domain, uphold international law, and ensure that our oceans remain open, peaceful, and beneficial for all humankind,” he said while concluding the statement.