The prince and deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, urged that freedom of navigation be guaranteed in all international waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. According to him, it is necessary to restore the situation in the Strait of Hormuz to its pre-20th-century status, without the imposition of fees or restrictions. The statements were made on Saturday (26) during a speech at the United Nations General Assembly.
“We can reject the use by any party of these vital waterways as a threat or coercive pressure to undermine the interests of our states, in accordance with international law and the relevant UN resolutions,” Nahyan stated.
In addition to calling for freedom of navigation on international waterways, the prince stated that the United Arab Emirates and other countries in the region have been targeted by attacks from Iran, against their security, resources and civilian and economic facilities.
“The Kingdom reiterates its full right to protect its security and sovereignty, its citizens and residents, and its national and global resources. We urge the international community to assume its responsibilities in confronting all threats to international peace and security,” he said.
For Nahyan, the security of the Gulf region is an integral part of regional and international security. “The stability of this region is directly linked to global energy security, to the stability of international trade, and to the resilience of global supply chains,” he reinforced.
The prince also urged that Middle Eastern countries not have free access to weapons of mass destruction and that peaceful nuclear programs be subject to international supervision, verification and safeguards, in order to build trust and preserve regional and international security.
