FM Meets International Shipping Chamber Chief

Talks focus on maritime cooperation, Hormuz Strait reopening, and global shipping security

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, met with Thomas Kazakos, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping, at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain in London on Thursday.

The meeting reviewed existing cooperation between Bahrain and the International Chamber of Shipping and explored ways to strengthen coordination in information sharing, benefit from the chamber's expertise in the maritime shipping sector, enhance international navigation safety, and improve responses to maritime emergencies and disputes.

The two sides also discussed the latest regional developments, including the impact of what Bahrain described as Iran's attacks on Bahrain and GCC countries. They reviewed the consequences of Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz on maritime transport, international trade, and the global economy, describing it as a violation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The meeting highlighted ongoing regional and international efforts to restore maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz to its status before February 28, 2026, in order to safeguard global trade as well as energy and food supplies.

Both sides stressed the need for the international community and the UN Security Council to take responsibility and exert pressure to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, while addressing the humanitarian impact on thousands of seafarers stranded in the Arabian Gulf and separated from their families.

The meeting was attended by Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Bahrain's Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Dean of the Arab Diplomatic Corps, along with the minister's accompanying delegation.