Checked Against Delivery
Thank you, Madam President,
And let me also thank Assistant Secretary-General Khiari and the Secretary-General of the GCC Al-Budaiwi for their briefings. And I particularly welcome you Mr. Secretary General to the Council today.
A close partnership between the UN and regional organisations, including the Gulf Cooperation Council, is vital to supporting regional stability. Denmark welcomes the constructive role of the GCC in using its voice to call for de-escalation and good neighbourhood relations.
Madam President,
Denmark condemns the ongoing illegal attacks by the Houthis in Yemen and on Saudi-Arabia, including on civilian infrastructure and commercial vessels.
The Houthis bear full responsibility for this escalation, which has been enabled by Iran’s long-standing support in violation of multiple Security Council Resolutions.
We mourn the loss of civilian lives and express our full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia and the legitimate government of Yemen.
At the same time, Iran has continued its attacks against the GCC states as well as its attacks against vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Denmark reiterates our condemnation of these acts, which are unacceptable and threaten the security of the entire region. We reaffirm our commitment to the security, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of the Gulf states.
We call on the Houthis and Iran to immediately cease all attacks and threats, and to comply fully with all Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2817.
Madam President,
While the GCC states bear the brunt of these direct attacks, the consequences of this escalation extend far beyond the Gulf. Global energy supplies have been disrupted for months, significantly increasing prices around the world.
The Straits of Hormuz and Bab al Mandeb are critical choke points in the global supply chain.
Freedom of navigation must urgently be restored in these critical waterways, in accordance with UNCLOS which must remain the legal anchor for our use of the seas.
The unimpeded exercise of navigational rights and freedoms is a cornerstone of peace, security and shared prosperity.
Neither the Houthis nor Iran can be allowed to take this freedom away.
Madam President,
Attacks and disruption of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea are not only constraining the movement of energy, but also critical input for global agriculture such as natural gas, fertilizer, ammonia and sulphur. As this Council has been briefed on numerous occasions, this has huge global repercussions.
When combined with the repeated drone strikes on vessels transporting grain and cooking oil in the Black Sea, the result is tens of millions of people facing growing food insecurity and hunger on a massive scale.
Once again, the world’s poorest, and those with the least ability to cope, are forced to bear the heaviest burden.
Madam President,
Denmark calls on Iran and the Houthis to end their attacks and return to dialogue and diplomacy to restore stability and security to the region.
The international community, and this Council, must support all efforts, including those of Special Envoy Grundberg in Yemen, to reach a political solution to prevent the region from descending into further conflict.
I thank you.
