Bahrain Calls for Safeguarding Maritime Routes and Energy Supply Chains

The Kingdom of Bahrain reaffirmed its support for the statement issued by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministerial Council, which strongly condemned what it described as Iran’s unjustified aggression targeting GCC countries and several Arab nations.

Bahrain stressed the urgent need for an immediate halt to these attacks in order to restore security, peace, and stability in the region. The kingdom also emphasized the importance of protecting air and maritime security, safeguarding regional waterways, and ensuring the stability of global supply chains and energy markets.

The remarks were delivered by Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, Bahrain’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, during a United Nations Security Council briefing session in New York City titled “Energy, Minerals, and Security.”

The session was chaired by Chris Wright, as the United States holds the presidency of the Security Council this month. The council also received a briefing from Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs.

During his address, Alrowaiei highlighted the growing link between energy, critical minerals, and global supply chains, noting their direct impact on international peace and security. He stressed that critical minerals play a key role in building modern economies and strengthening strategic sectors that support technological and economic transformation, including energy security and advanced industries.

He also pointed out that increasing competition over these resources has created complex geopolitical and economic dynamics, calling on the international community to ensure that critical minerals contribute to stability and development rather than becoming sources of tension or conflict.

The Bahraini representative underscored the kingdom’s commitment to responsible and sustainable management of natural resources, along with transparency and international cooperation in regulating supply chains. Such measures, he said, help reduce risks related to monopolization, politicization, or market disruption and contribute to building a safe, sustainable, and affordable global market.

Bahrain has participated in several international and regional initiatives in this field and signed bilateral agreements related to energy exploration and production. Among the most recent developments was the signing of a cooperation framework with the United States focusing on critical minerals.

Alrowaiei also praised the role of the International Seabed Authority, established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, in regulating exploration and exploitation of mineral resources in deep seabed areas beyond national jurisdiction, describing it as a balanced legal framework.

Referring to what he described as ongoing Iranian aggression targeting Bahrain, the ambassador accused Iran of continuing actions that destabilize global security. He cited threats to freedom of navigation, attempts to close the Strait of Hormuz, and attacks on oil tankers and energy infrastructure, including documented incidents involving vital facilities across the region.

He concluded by urging the international community to strongly condemn these attacks due to their serious implications for regional and international peace. He also called for strengthened international cooperation to protect vital maritime routes and strategic infrastructure, while ensuring that critical resources do not become sources of conflict or exploitation.

Bahrain reaffirmed its commitment to the principles of international law and respect for state sovereignty, stressing their importance in preventing escalation and preserving regional and global stability.