Waterways Must Never Be Weapons, Bahrain Tells UN

Bahrain pushed for stronger protection of civilians, secure sea lanes and closer Gulf-Asian cooperation during a packed diplomatic schedule at the United Nations in New York. Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani addressed the Security Council, joined a high-level maritime security meeting and chaired the GCC-ASEAN ministerial on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly.

Civilians must come first

Speaking at the Security Council session on Ukraine, Al Zayani said the prolonged war and its humanitarian toll place a heavier duty on the international community to shield civilians. He called for respect for international law and international humanitarian law, and for an end to attacks on residential areas and civilian facilities. He also welcomed US President Donald Trump's efforts to revive Russia-Ukraine talks, saying dialogue could ease escalation and open the way to a lasting political settlement.

At a ministerial meeting on a safe and stable maritime domain, co-organised by Bahrain, Canada, Estonia, Japan, the Netherlands, the Philippines and the European Union, Al Zayani rejected the use of waterways as instruments of coercion. He cited the Strait of Hormuz, Red Sea, Bab Al Mandab and Black Sea as flashpoints that threaten trade, energy and food supplies.

He urged full implementation of Security Council resolutions 2817 and 2722. He condemned Iranian attacks on Bahrain, GCC states and Jordan, along with Houthi attacks on commercial shipping and on Saudi Arabia, and expressed Bahrain's solidarity with Riyadh.

He also noted that Bahrain hosted an Arria-formula Security Council meeting the previous week, titled "Safe Seas, Shared Security". Its recommendations covered early warning, maritime data sharing, emergency planning and protection of seafarers and essential supplies.

Chairing the joint GCC-ASEAN ministerial meeting, FM Al Zayani thanked ASEAN members for their solidarity with Gulf states during a difficult period and for recognising the GCC's mediation efforts. He said the partnership has gained significant momentum since the first summit in 2023, with two summits held and a cooperation framework established. Looking ahead to the third summit next year, he urged practical, measurable initiatives that serve the interests of both regions.