In an era where the sea remains the foundation of global trade, yet increasingly turns into a theater of complex threats, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis delivered a clear and resonant message from the floor of the United Nations Security Council: maritime security is not a luxury, nor the privilege of naval powers—it is a shared global responsibility. And Greece has no intention of being a bystander.
In a speech that steered clear of diplomatic platitudes and struck at the core of the issue, Mitsotakis underscored the mounting risks faced by global shipping and seaborne logistics. From piracy and terrorism to smuggling and hybrid attacks on critical port infrastructure, the threats are no longer localized—they are systemic. Climate change adds another volatile layer, with rising sea levels and extreme weather events disrupting shipping lanes and port operations across continents.
“The UN is the appropriate forum for this discussion,” Mitsotakis stated, rightly recognizing the United Nations not only as the guardian of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, but as the natural venue for crafting global coordination. Because the sea—much like the air we breathe—connects us all.
Over 80% of global trade is transported by sea. This staggering figure was not just a data point in the Greek Prime Minister’s address—it was a wake-up call. The oceans are the veins of the global economy. Disrupt them, and the world bleeds.
But maritime threats today are not purely military or criminal. They are environmental. They are technological. And they are deeply geopolitical. As Mitsotakis aptly noted, “Global problems require global solutions.” Addressing maritime security demands real, multilateral cooperation—between governments, international organizations, and the private sector alike.
For Greece—the world’s leading maritime nation by commercial tonnage—this is not theory. It’s national interest. Our prosperity, quite literally, floats on the water. And with a merchant fleet that spans every corner of the globe, Greece has both the duty and the capacity to lead. To push for integrated maritime safety strategies. To invest in digital and cyber-secure port infrastructure. To support international legal frameworks and operational coordination mechanisms that work.
The challenge is holistic. We cannot secure East African waters without addressing instability in the Sahel. We cannot protect Aegean Sea routes without safeguarding the digital backbone of our port systems. And maritime security is not just a matter of naval deterrence—it is about the resilience of supply chains, the sustainability of ocean ecosystems, and the survival of island communities.
What Mitsotakis said at the UN is clear.
The real question is: who listens? And who acts?
Greece can be—and must be—that actor.