MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines, together with 59 other countries, pledged to uphold freedom of navigation and oppose restrictions on lawful maritime passage, saying the principle is “vital for global security.”
The pledge, announced Monday, Oct. 12, by European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, stressed the importance of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos) in governing maritime activities.
Regarded as the “constitution of the oceans,” the convention is essential to maintaining an international order based on the rule of law. The countries that made the commitment said there is a need to preserve the convention’s integrity.
“Disruptions to maritime routes—including in strategically vital waterways—have demonstrated the global consequences of disregard for these principles, including significant impacts on international trade, energy flows, supply chains, and food security,” they said.
The countries said introducing restrictions, conditions, discriminatory measures or other obstacles to lawful passage through straits used for international navigation would set a dangerous precedent for global strategic waterways.
“No State should impose discriminatory limits on the passage of ships through such waterways in a manner inconsistent with international law, as reflected in Unclos. This principle is vital for global security,” they said.
The Philippines is among 33 countries outside the European Union supporting the pledge, alongside all EU member states, bringing the total number of participating countries to 60.
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The signatories committed to three main actions: strengthening multilateral cooperation through international and regional maritime institutions, particularly the International Maritime Organization; rejecting coercive or unilateral actions that undermine the international legal order; and opposing measures that impede lawful navigation through international straits.
The pledge also calls for defensive and non-escalatory multilateral initiatives to preserve freedom of navigation, emphasizing that maritime security is a shared international responsibility. /dm
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