Oceans Under Watch

TDT | Manama

Email : ashen@newsofbahrain.com

The 21st IISS Manama Dialogue 2025 came to a close with global leaders and defence experts agreeing on one key message, maritime security is a shared responsibility for all nations.

The final day, held under the theme “Maritime Security as a Regional and Global Responsibility,” highlighted the importance of protecting sea routes and vital infrastructure to ensure global peace, stability, and economic growth.

Gulf-Led Solutions

Dr. Constantinos Kombos, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, emphasized the need for “regional-led processes” in addressing the evolving security architecture of the Gulf and beyond.

“The equation of security must be built through cooperation within the region,” he said, highlighting the importance of inclusive dialogue and regional mediation efforts.

Reflecting on Europe’s perspective, Dr. Kombos drew parallels with state-building experiences in Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, while reaffirming the European Union’s commitment to peace and reconstruction efforts in Gaza.

He also praised Gulf nations’ Vision programs, describing them as “impressive and inspiring models of transformation that connect societies, entrepreneurs, and future generations.”

Dr. Kombos reiterated that Europe and the Gulf share a common destiny rooted in stability, mutual investment, and people-to-people ties.

No single nation can secure the seas alone

Zaqy Mohamad, Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Defence, spotlighted the fragility of undersea infrastructure and the urgent need for collective maritime vigilance.

Citing the 2024 Red Sea incident, in which several submarine cables were severed, disrupting nearly 70% of data traffic between Asia and Europe, he warned that “our digital arteries are just as vital as our shipping lanes.”

He shared Singapore’s model of regional cooperation through coordinated patrols in the Strait of Malacca and large-scale exercises like Pacific Reach, which bring together navies from across the Indo-Pacific to enhance submarine rescue and maritime response capabilities.

“Security at sea cannot be achieved in isolation,” he said. “It requires diplomacy, endurance, and development — all working in harmony.”

Compliance

Admiral Sir Keith Blount, Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (NATO), concluded the day with a pragmatic reflection on the evolving nature of maritime threats and the importance of intelligence-sharing.

“The vastness of the oceans reminds us that no navy, no matter how powerful, can be everywhere at once,” he said. “Our strength lies in cooperation, in building trust, and in sharing information that can prevent conflict before it starts.”

He said frameworks from NATO and the European Union to the GCC and the Arab League must not only exist in structure but thrive in compliance and collaboration.

“Frameworks are only as strong as the willingness of nations to uphold them,” Admiral Blount asserted.

The Manama Dialogue 2025 concluded.