Statement by the Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations, Ambassador Sérgio França Danese, at the UNSC open debate on maritime security - May 20th, 2025

Mr. President,

Brazil congratulates Greece on presiding over the Council this month and thanks you for convening this timely debate on maritime security.

With one of the largest coastal lines in the world, Brazil’s history, economy and identity are inseparable from the sea. It is natural that we attach the highest importance to preserving a safe maritime domain, whose governance should be based on International Law, with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea at its core.

Today, that domain is under strain. Piracy, armed robbery, and transnational organized crime are examples of challenges faced by the international community.

They increasingly overlap and reinforce one another. And the situation has been aggravated by the malicious use of emerging technologies.

Attacks against commercial shipping endanger crews, disrupt trade and supply chains and jeopardize food and energy security.

Millions of people whose lives depend on a sustained exploitation of the seas are threatened by the irresponsible and criminal use of sea lanes. The Red Sea stands out as a maritime space particularly threatened by all these challenges and deserves especial attention by this Council in this regard.

In responding to this complex landscape worldwide, Brazil sees three immediate priorities:

First, the full and unconditional respect and enforcement of international law. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is the constitution of the oceans. States must fulfil their obligations under this and other conventions and treaties that regulate the seas, including the duty to cooperate in suppressing all illicit activities, especially those against the maritime environment. This Council, for its part, must insist on full compliance with international law, of which its resolutions are an integral part.

Second, full engagement in practical cooperation and capacity building. Effective maritime domain awareness demands real-time information-sharing, harmonized surveillance tools and responsible integration of new technologies. Brazil stands ready to deepen partnerships through our active engagement in the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic and our long-standing support to Gulf of Guinea navies and coast guards.

Brazil believes that the principles and values enshrined under the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic, which establishes the South Atlantic as a zone of peace, free of weapons of mass destruction and preserved from foreign geopolitical disputes, send a relevant message to today's world. This message will be reinforced in 2026, when Brazil will host the ninth ministerial meeting, to celebrate the 40 years of the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic.

Third, a multidimensional approach linking security and sustainable maritime practices. Protecting critical maritime infrastructure, improving port resilience, advancing digital skills and addressing cyber-threats are mutually reinforcing measures. Also, the costs of combating piracy and armed robbery at sea require resources that could otherwise be used to the development of coastal regions. There is thus a clear interdependence between maritime security, rule of law, and the development of coastal regions, which must be taken into consideration.

Mr. President,

For Brazil, oceans are key for inclusive growth, sustainable development and the well-being of our peoples. We therefore call on all partners to redouble their commitment to international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and to the cooperative spirit that underpins it.

Brazil stands ready to work with Council members, regional organizations, the International Maritime Organization and all stakeholders to ensure that the world`s oceans remain a realm of peace, stability and shared, responsible and sustained prosperity.

Thank you.