Morocco's Ambassador to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, delivered a strong statement before the UN Security Council on April 28, 2026, denouncing the instrumentalization of international maritime routes as instruments of pressure and blackmail. The remarks were made during a Security Council session on the maintenance of international peace and security.
Hilale emphasized that the manipulation of global shipping lanes for political or economic coercion violates international law and threatens global stability. He called on the international community to uphold the principles of freedom of navigation and respect for the sovereignty of coastal states.
The Moroccan diplomat specifically highlighted the risks posed by such practices to regional security, particularly in the Mediterranean and Atlantic regions. He urged the Security Council to take concrete measures to prevent the use of maritime routes as leverage in geopolitical disputes.
Morocco has consistently advocated for a rules-based international order and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. Hilale's intervention aligns with the kingdom's longstanding position on the inviolability of international waters and the need for collective action against maritime threats.
