Portugal Advocates Global Cooperation and Reinforces UNCLOS as Foundation for Maritime Security at UN Security Council Open Debate

On August 11, 2025, the United Nations Security Council held a high-level open debate on “Maritime Security: Prevention, Innovation, and International Cooperation to Address Emerging Challenges”, aimed at addressing global challenges to the safety and sustainability of our seas and oceans.

Portugal took the floor to underscore the centrality of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as the legal framework for maritime security. It also emphasized that regional cooperation, capacity building, the use of new technologies, and the protection of critical submarine infrastructure are essential pillars of preventive action and global coordination for the defence of maritime spaces.

This discussion followed a previous open debate of the UN Security Council on May 20, titled “Strengthening Maritime Security through International Cooperation for Global Stability”, where Portugal urged the Council to tackle maritime security in a cross-cutting and systematic manner. At that time, Portugal reiterated the centrality of UNCLOS and underlined the need for sustained cooperation and robust engagement with regional maritime security architectures to ensure open and safe seas.

Portugal’s interventions in both debates reaffirms its longstanding commitment to multilateral solutions and its readiness to contribute to collective efforts aiming at ensuring that our seas remain secure and governed by the rule of law.