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Türkiye warned Monday that Israel's military actions in Gaza are destabilizing maritime security across the Middle East, calling for a permanent ceasefire to restore safe passage through critical shipping lanes.
Speaking to the UN Security Council, Turkish Deputy Permanent Representative Asli Guven said tensions in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden confirm Ankara's predictions that the Gaza conflict would expand beyond Palestinian territories.
"A permanent ceasefire in Gaza is essential to securing freedom of navigation in the Red Sea," Guven told the council during discussions on maritime security threats.
"We are closely following developments in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, where tensions confirm our warnings that Israeli aggression in Gaza would spill over, threatening navigation," she said.
Guven emphasized that "Türkiye places a high priority on maritime security, freedom of navigation and open sea lines of communication," noting that piracy, terrorism and armed robbery pose "serious threats to seafarers, international trade, food and energy security and the prosperity of all nations."
She added that regional conflicts also undermine maritime safety beyond traditional security concerns.
The Turkish diplomat pointed to irregular migration and migrant smuggling as "pressing maritime challenges," highlighting Türkiye's strategic position along Eastern Mediterranean routes.
She said Türkiye hosts one of the world's largest refugee populations and conducts "robust maritime surveillance and search and rescue operations" in line with humanitarian principles.
On energy resources, Guven said exploitation "must fully respect the legitimate and inherent rights of all relevant peoples and parties" and urged avoiding "maximalist positions" to foster stability and cooperation in contested waters.
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