Photo UN/M. Garten Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses the press at UN headquarters. UN Secretary General calls for an end to attacks on key sea routes International Law
Shipping rights and freedoms are not abstract principles. They are guaranteed by international law. This was stated by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, speaking to reporters at UN headquarters.
“These rights and freedoms are essential to international peace and security, as well as to the supply of food, energy and essential goods on which the lives of billions of people depend,” said the Secretary General.
Guterres noted that today conflicts in different regions have a negative impact on the situation of populations around the world. In the Middle East, ongoing attacks and disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea have limited the movement of energy, fertilizers and other goods. Since the beginning of the conflict, that is, since February 2026, oil prices have increased by 33 percent. At the same time, global container shipping rates rose 84 percent over the year. Fertilizer costs have also risen sharply.
In the context of the conflict following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the attacks threaten shipping lanes critical to the export of oil, grain and other agricultural products, the UN chief said.
“These crises are choking the arteries of global trade and are dealing a particularly heavy blow. on the global food system,” the Secretary General emphasized.
He called for full respect for international law, the protection of civilian ships and sailors, the immediate cessation of attacks in the Black and Red Seas and the restoration of rights and freedoms of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. production.
The group operates under the guidance of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). It included representatives from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and the International Chamber of Commerce.
“The goal is simple: reduce immediate risks, support more orderly and predictable transit, and help restore the trust needed for diplomacy and de-escalation,” said Secretary General.
According to him, the proposed mechanism will not replace the full restoration of freedoms of navigation or political decisions, but could be the first step in this direction.
“This is a demonstration that even in the midst of conflict it is possible to reduce risks, protect civilians and secure the movement of essential goods,” said Guterres.
“I encourage all stakeholders to engage seriously and constructively,” he added.