"Maritime Security and Safe Trade Routes"

Rationale for Dialogue on "Maritime Security and Safe Trade Routes”:

The «Nisyros Dialogues»® are ideally positioned to address the complex maritime security landscape that affects the Eastern Mediterranean, a region of growing geopolitical significance. Maritime security has become increasingly critical in 2024-2025 due to:

• Ongoing conflicts affecting key maritime chokepoints (Red Sea, Strait of Hormuz)
• Rising geopolitical tensions affecting global shipping routes
• Increased piracy and maritime terrorism threats
• The region's position as a crossroads between Europe, Asia, and Africa
• Climate change impacts on Mediterranean and regional shipping routes

This session aligns with the «Nisyros Dialogues»' mission to bridge divides and find common ground on complex interconnected international issues that require multilateral cooperation, and Doha Forum’s 2026 theme: Redefining Global Trust

Added Value to Doha Forum 2026

This session will enhance the Doha Forum 2026 by:

• Addressing a critical economic issue affecting Qatar, the Mediterranean, and global trade
  Providing a platform for discussing practical solutions to disruptions in maritime trade
• Bringing together key stakeholders from the EU, Greece, Egypt, U.S & Qatar
• Building bridges between Eastern Mediterranean and Gulf stakeholders
• Connecting Eastern Mediterranean maritime security concerns to global trade stability
• Offering actionable policy recommendations that could be implemented by participating nations

Dialogue Axes:

Current threats to Mediterranean and Middle Eastern maritime chokepoints

• Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and their impact on Suez Canal traffic
• Escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and implications for energy transport
• Rising incidents of piracy and maritime terrorism in the Eastern Mediterranean
• Cyber threats to port infrastructure and vessel navigation systems
• Militarization of key maritime zones and its effect on commercial shipping

Economic impacts of maritime insecurity on EU-Middle East trade

• Quantifiable costs of rerouting vessels around the Cape of Good Hope
• Insurance premium increases and their effect on consumer prices
• Supply chain disruptions and inventory management challenges
• Impact on time-sensitive goods and perishable cargo
• Economic consequences for Suez Canal revenue and Egyptian economy
• Effects on shipping companies' operational costs and profitability

Multilateral approaches to protecting shipping lanes

• EU NAVFOR and potential expansion of Operation ASPIDES
• NATO's role in maritime security cooperation in the Mediterranean
• Coordination between EU, US, Egyptian, and Gulf state naval forces
• Information sharing mechanisms between maritime stakeholders
• Public-private partnerships for maritime security enhancement
• Diplomatic initiatives to de-escalate regional conflicts affecting shipping

Regional cooperation frameworks for maritime security

• East Mediterranean Gas Forum as a model for maritime security cooperation
• Greece-Cyprus-Egypt trilateral partnership on maritime issues
• EU maritime security strategy implementation in the Mediterranean
• Role of Egypt as a pivotal actor in Eastern Mediterranean-Red Sea security nexus
• UNIFIL Maritime Task Force and its evolving mandate
• Potential for inclusive regional maritime security dialogues including Qatar
• Training and capacity building initiatives for coast guards and naval forces
• Joint exercises and protocols for emergency response

Legal frameworks for safe passage in contested waters

• United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) implementation challenges
  Enforcement mechanisms for freedom of navigation principles
• Legal status of armed security personnel on commercial vessels
• Maritime boundaries and EEZ disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean
• International legal remedies for attacks on commercial shipping
• Insurance and liability frameworks for vessels transiting high-risk areas

Climate considerations in future maritime route planning

• Environmental impacts of extended shipping routes due to security threats
• Decarbonization efforts in shipping and their relationship to route security
• Climate change effects on Mediterranean ports and infrastructure
• Renewable energy infrastructure development along shipping routes
• Balancing security concerns with environmental protection
• Green shipping corridors and their potential implementation in the Mediterranean