During a high-level debate on maritime security at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Morocco strongly denounced the use of international straits and sea lanes as instruments of geopolitical pressure. The Moroccan representative highlighted the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz and the Strait of Gibraltar, both critical chokepoints for global energy and trade flows.
Morocco's statement came amid rising tensions in the Middle East and the Mediterranean, where the Strait of Hormuz has been a flashpoint for Iran-U.S. confrontations, and the Strait of Gibraltar has seen increased naval activity related to Western Sahara disputes and migration control. The Moroccan delegation called for respect of international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to ensure freedom of navigation.
The debate, organized by the UN Group of Friends on Maritime Security, included representatives from several coastal states and maritime powers. Morocco emphasized that no country should be allowed to block or threaten shipping in these vital waterways, which carry about 30% of the world's oil and a significant portion of global trade. The kingdom also reiterated its commitment to regional stability and cooperative security frameworks.
