Checked Against Delivery
Thank you, Mr President.
I thank Greece for convening this debate and commend you, Prime Minister, for your presence today and for your country’s steadfast commitment to maritime security. Let me also thank our briefers for their insightful remarks.
Mr President,
Emerging technologies are rapidly reshaping all aspects of our lives. This includes maritime security. Remotely operated drones, autonomous systems and AI-enabled surveillance offer new tools not only to improve operational efficiency but to detect and respond to threats, thereby protecting seafarers.
But as we’ve also heard this morning, these same technologies can also be used to undermine maritime security. To attack civilian objects, including commercial ships, and civilian seafarers. This creates new challenges and raises the risk of new threats to international peace and security.
Civilian seafarers have borne the brunt of these threats. Some have been trapped on board ships for months. Many have been on ships at risk of hitting mines, or faced batteries of drones and missiles. Dozens have been reported killed in direct attacks by deadly autonomous weapons. We deplore such heinous attacks.
Denmark insists that AI-enabled weapon systems must always operate under human control to ensure oversight and accountability and guard against misuse. International law applies equally to emerging technologies.
Mr President,
Since 2022, the Black Sea has become a major theatre of conflict in Russia’s unprovoked and illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine. That same year, the Secretary-General brokered the Black Sea Grain Initiative to limit the increase in global food insecurity. Russia regrettably withdrew from the agreement after just one year.
Since then, there have been repeated drone strikes on vessels transporting grain and cooking oil. Grain storage sites and commercial port infrastructure have also been hit. The Middle East, North Africa and the Horn of Africa have all felt the consequences, with tens of millions facing growing food insecurity. Humanitarian suffering on a huge scale.
The toll on seafarers in the Black Sea has been acute. In the last year, around 50 seafarers have been reportedly killed and over 100 injured.
Denmark supports the proposed double moratorium that aims to ensure, among other things, that Ukrainian and Russian grain can cross the Black Sea to reach the world market. Regrettably Russia has, so far, shown no interest, and has only escalated the war further.
Mr President,
The Straits of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb are critical choke points in the global supply chain where emerging technologies threaten maritime security. Iranian and Houthi drones have been reported hitting tankers and container ships with ever greater accuracy. In the last eight months, at least 100 vessels were attacked, with dozens of seafarers reportedly killed. Ships have been re-routed, resulting in long delays for critical goods and higher freight costs, negatively impacting global growth and development.
Since 28 February, the world’s energy flows from the Gulf have been disrupted, significantly increasing global prices. Once again, the world’s poor have borne the heaviest burden.
A major knock-on effect has been a shortage of fertiliser. Without this vital commodity many farmers across the world are unable to achieve their normal crops yields, resulting in increased and more acute food insecurity. This trend must be urgently reversed.
Mr President,
This Council needs to better understand how emerging technologies affect maritime security. Denmark welcomes the recent launch of an Informal Expert Group on Technology, Peace and Security, which provides a possible forum for such discussions.
These technologies are not only risks, but also opportunities. More responsible innovation, information sharing, practical cooperation and international oversight grounded in international law could lead to greater maritime security.
UNCLOS and international humanitarian law must remain the legal anchor for our use of the seas. Freedom of navigation, also during armed conflict, is enshrined in international law precisely because this common good is vital to our collective security.
Parties to a conflict must respect the freedom of navigation of non-belligerent States and adhere to international humanitarian law.
The international community must stand together in defence of these principles and against those who would use emerging technologies to undermine them.
Thank you.
