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Rabat – Morocco has strongly condemned the use of strategic straits and maritime routes as tools of pressure and coercion, warning that such practices threaten global trade, stability, and the principle of free navigation.
Morocco’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, took part on Monday in a joint press stakeout led by Bahrain’s Foreign Minister, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, alongside representatives from 96 UN member states. The group reaffirmed its commitment to protecting navigation rights and freedoms in the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking at the event, Hilale stated that free navigation is essential for global stability. “The seas belong to all humanity — not bargaining chips in the hands of those who have chosen hostility as a foreign policy for decades,” he said.
Hilale also noted Morocco’s geographic position as a key factor shaping its stance. Located at the crossroads of Africa and Europe and along the Strait of Gibraltar, Morocco sees maritime security as a core national interest. “Freedom of navigation is not a diplomatic option — but an existential commitment rooted in geography and history,” he added.
The Moroccan diplomat strongly condemned recent attacks targeting commercial vessels in the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea, warning against threats posed by armed groups disrupting international shipping routes.
He also pointed to two initiatives led by King Mohammed VI aimed at strengthening maritime security in Africa. These include the Atlantic Royal Initiative, which seeks to give Sahel countries access to the Atlantic Ocean, and the Atlantic African States Process, which brings together more than 20 coastal nations to build collective security.
Read also: Iran Reportedly Offers to End Hormuz Chokehold, Asks US to Remove Blockade
Hilale’s remarks come as tensions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to escalate amid an ongoing war between Iran, the US, and Israel.
Following attacks from the US and Iran in late February, Iran has imposed restrictions on the strait, effectively controlling which ships can pass through the narrow waterway. The US later responded by imposing a naval blockade, creating a situation where vessels often need approval from both sides to transit safely.
The strait, located between Iran and Oman, is one of the world’s most critical shipping routes, carrying around 20% of global oil and gas supplies. Any disruption has immediate global consequences.
Iranian forces have seized or targeted commercial vessels, while military forces from both sides continue to operate in and around the corridor.
The standoff has already disrupted energy markets, with millions of barrels of oil affected and prices rising.
There have been limited signs of ships successfully crossing the strait, and maritime traffic remains far below normal levels due to ongoing security risks.
