New York¨C On 30 June 2026, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), the Hellenic Republic, the Republic of Malta, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOCT), and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) co-organized a side event on terrorist threats in the maritime domain.
This side event, held on the margins of the fourth United Nations Counter-Terrorism Week, was attended by more than 250 participants from Member States, international and regional organizations, academia, and civil society.
The side event focused on the evolving terrorist threat in the maritime domain, including the exploitation of maritime routes, ports, and critical infrastructure by terrorists and organized crime actors, as well as the challenges posed by emerging technologies and transnational security threats. Its objective was to strengthen international cooperation and information-sharing, identify gaps and good practices, and explore policy, legal, and operational measures to enhance the prevention and suppression of terrorist activities at sea, while reinforcing the security and resilience of maritime infrastructure.
Ms. Natalia Gherman, Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of CTED, called for a shift in approach, noting that ¡°No state, regardless of capacity or geography, can secure the maritime domain alone; therefore, strengthened cooperation at the national, regional, and international levels is essential, including through whole-of-government approaches that bring together law enforcement, border management, maritime authorities, intelligence services, and the private sector.¡±
Ms. Aglaia Balta, Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations, stated that ¡°in an increasingly complex and asymmetrical threat landscape, safeguarding freedom of navigation and maritime security is indispensable to the maintenance of international peace and security¡±.
Ms. Natasha Meli, Permanent Representative of Malta to the United Nations, stressed that reducing maritime domain blindness is not simply about collecting more information; it is about building stronger partnerships, sharing information effectively, and acting together before threats materialize.
Mr. Ignacio Ib¨¢?ez, Head of the Madrid Programme Office and Coordinator of Vulnerable Targets Programme, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOCT emphasized that strengthening our collective ability to prevent and counter terrorist threats in the maritime domain is a security imperative and a shared responsibility.
Mr. Jeremy Greenwood, Head of the Maritime Security Section, Maritime Safety Division, International Maritime Organization, stressed that the modern maritime domain faces unprecedented security threats. Addressing these requires new and innovative global and regional solutions involving an inter-agency approach and the engagement of all stakeholders.
Resources
The concept note and agenda for the side event is available here.
You can watch the event .
Photos from the side event are available .
Remarks and presentations shared by the participants:
For more information about CTED¡¯s other events at 2026 Counter-Terrorism Week, please visit this page.