Hassan Al-Sitri
Cyprus Foreign Minister: The Houthis use political propaganda to gain global sympathy
Singapore: Cutting Red Sea cables exposes the fragility of digital infrastructure
NATO: The seas transport 90% of the world’s trade and require a global security partnership
During the sixth session of the “Manama Dialogue,” international officials and experts warned of growing threats to global maritime security, stressing that the increasing attacks in the Red Sea and oceans are no longer just regional events, but rather affect the stability of the global economy.
The Cypriot Foreign Minister, Dr. Constantinos Kumpos said that the Houthis succeeded in transforming their threats from a local to a global scope thanks to their possession of a powerful propaganda machine, noting that the decline in the volume of trade in the Red Sea by 60% was directly reflected in the movement of navigation through the Suez Canal and international markets.
In the same context, Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Defence, Zaki Mohamed, stressed that any disturbance in international waterways immediately affects the global economy, pointing out that the cutting of submarine cables in the Red Sea revealed the fragility of the digital infrastructure.
For his part, Deputy Supreme Commander of Allied Forces Europe in NATO, Admiral Blount, stressed that the seas represent the arteries of the global economy, and that maintaining their security requires international cooperation and effective exchange of information.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, Dr. Constantinos Kumpos said that the threats imposed by the Houthis went beyond the local framework to become a global threat, thanks to their possession of a strong propaganda machine and the ability to adapt, noting that they adopted political positions – including the Palestinian issue – to enhance their legitimacy and gain sympathy.
He added, during the sixth plenary session of the “Manama Dialogue,” that maritime security is a regional and global responsibility, noting that the attacks carried out by the Houthis, despite their low cost, caused widespread damage in several areas, and created a factor of fear that disturbed international markets and affected maritime trade, as the Red Sea witnessed a sharp decline in the volume of trade amounting to about 60%, with a similar decline in navigation traffic through the Suez Canal.
The Minister explained that the impact of these attacks on inflation was less than expected, but the feeling of excessive confidence in controlling the threat is unjustified, especially in light of the disparity in targeting ships, as Russian or Chinese ships are not targeted at the same frequency, which has led to an increase in their commercial activity in the region.
He pointed out that European Union policies still show a clear gap. While sanctions are imposed on Russia due to its war in Ukraine, the Red Sea region remains almost neglected in European strategy.
Dr. called. Compos called for strengthening political plans and not being satisfied with military solutions, noting that maritime piracy is witnessing a worrying increase, as about 60% of piracy attempts succeeded last year, in addition to the increasing threats associated with the “ghost fleet” and attacks on vital infrastructure such as power and communications cables under the sea.
The Minister also addressed the issue of illegal fishing, which represents a trade worth billions of dollars and affects maritime and economic security on the African continent and Europe alike.
He stressed that Cyprus – which will soon assume the presidency of the Council of the European Union – will place maritime security at the top of its priorities, stressing the need to combine the political and military dimensions, and intensify cooperation with regional partners to enhance security and stability in the seas and strategic corridors.
The First Minister of State for Defense of the Republic of Singapore, Zaki Mohamed, began his speech by emphasizing that any disturbance in international waterways has an immediate impact on the global economy, explaining that attacks by drones and missiles in the Red Sea have become a growing threat, at a time when the region and the world are exposed to advanced hybrid attacks. He pointed out that the cutting of four submarine cables in the Red Sea in 2024 directly affected about 70% of data traffic between Asia and Europe, highlighting the fragility of vital maritime infrastructure.
He stressed that regional cooperation and diplomacy are the best way to confront these challenges, explaining that Singapore works closely with Southeast Asian countries – such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand – in joint patrols to combat piracy in the Strait of Malacca, one of the most important trade lanes in the world, as a quarter of global trade passes through it.
He pointed out the importance of joint naval exercises to build confidence and enhance the ability to work together, noting that Singapore recently hosted an exercise in which 17 countries participated to develop the rescue capabilities of submarines, as part of raising regional readiness.
The Minister stated that cooperation in combating piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea comes from Singapore’s conviction that the security of the seas is a common global interest that cannot be guaranteed by a single power, but rather through multilateral cooperation networks. He also stressed the importance of dialogue between countries as a pillar for building confidence, praising platforms such as the “Manama Dialogue” and the “Shangri-La Dialogue” in promoting constructive discussion between countries with different geopolitical interests.
The Minister concluded his speech by saying that “the art of governance today is based on a balance between military presence and sustainable development,” stressing that Singapore will continue to work to build bridges of cooperation and pass on to future generations safe and undisputed seas.
For his part, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Alliance Forces Europe – NATO, Admiral Blount, explained that maritime security is a shared international responsibility, linked to the nature of the oceans and seas that constitute the arteries of the global economy. The seas carry about 90% of the world’s trade, and transmit almost all of its digital data, making their security a basis for globalization and economic stability.
He pointed out that the challenges facing maritime security are many and varied, ranging from piracy and smuggling of people, drugs and weapons, to cyber attacks on navigation systems and ports, to threats to undersea infrastructure. Some of them are old, and some are new in light of the tremendous technological development.
He stressed the need for unified efforts and international consensus within the framework of the rules-based system, indicating that the United Nations, NATO, the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Gulf states all play complementary roles in this field.
He pointed out that new challenges – such as submarine cables and pipes – require broader awareness and cooperation, because tracking and protecting them on the high seas is complex and expensive. He stressed that the exchange of intelligence information between countries and institutions is vital, despite legitimate reservations about the use and confidentiality of data.
The Admiral pointed out that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea allows boarding suspected ships in cases of piracy or illegal activities, but implementing this in practice is difficult in light of the spread of “ghost fleets” that hide from international radar.
He concluded his speech by emphasizing the importance of joint action and investment in technology and maritime awareness to ensure the effectiveness of protection systems, calling for strengthening dialogue and inclusiveness. He said: “The seas may be a scene of risks, but they are also a space of opportunities, and we must use platforms such as the Manama Dialogue to emphasize that maritime security is a shared global responsibility.”
