Singapore, Fiji, Jamaica, and Malta have issued a joint call for the restoration of unimpeded transit through the Strait of Hormuz following the veto of a United Nations Security Council resolution.
- Joint Action: Singapore, Fiji, Jamaica, and Malta are demanding the reopening of crucial waterway transit.
- UN Veto: The call follows the use of veto powers by Russia and China on a draft resolution regarding the Middle East.
- Legal Basis: The nations are citing the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to support transit rights.
Diplomatic Push for Strait of Hormuz Access
Singapore’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Burhan Gafoor, delivered the joint statement on behalf of the four nations during a meeting of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, April 16.
The meeting was convened specifically to debate the decision by Russia and China to veto a draft resolution concerning the situation in the Middle East.
According to Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the resolution would have reaffirmed the right of all ships and aircraft to enjoy unimpeded transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international law.
MFA noted that Fiji, Jamaica, Malta, and Singapore “contributed substantively” to the negotiation, drafting, and conclusion of UNCLOS and maintain an “abiding interest in its faithful implementation.”
The joint statement urged all concerned parties to uphold their obligations under international law to ensure the safety of seafarers and ships.
Officials emphasized that the right of transit passage is fundamental to international maritime trade. MFA added that disruptions to such passage cause severe adverse impacts on energy security and economic resilience for developing states and small island nations with trade-dependent economies.
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