Poland in the UN

On May 20, 2025, Poland participated in the UN Security Council open debate on maritime security.

The full statement delivered by Michał Miarka, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to the UN in New York, is available below.

Mister President,

I would like to begin by expressing our gratitude to the Greek presidency for convening this important debate and Secretary-General António Guterres for his comprehensive briefing.  

Poland supports the statement delivered earlier by the EU. Now, I would like to add a few remarks in my national capacity.

Mister President,

Poland believes that ensuring maritime security is a complex task that requires a broad, interdisciplinary approach. It calls for enforcing legal frameworks, strengthening infrastructure and resilience, and fostering international cooperation. We are pleased that discussions to identify the right tools are already happening in various formats, including NATO, the EU, as well as regionally.

In this respect, Poland supports close cooperation in the Baltic Sea region, including the work within the Council of the Baltic Sea States. Now is the time to enhance and reshape the organization's political pillar, with an emphasis on broader regional security. To this aim, Polish CBSS Presidency will focus on strengthening regional resilience.

Mister President,

Threats to maritime security have far-reaching destabilising consequences, and Russia’s hybrid campaign targeting the critical undersea infrastructure (CUI) of other Baltic states is a case in point. Damaging CUI poses a major risk to both individual countries and global security. Therefore, we should spare no effort to clarify the legal status of such acts under international law.

Mister President,

We cannot forget that all actions taken by states and international organisations must respect international law, with UNCLOS being the guarding principle. Improved international legal cooperation – including data sharing, coordinated investigations, and legal accountability – can significantly bolster the protection of offshore infrastructure, preventing it from sabotage and cyber-physical attacks.

Under no circumstances should activities aimed at jeopardising the safety of navigation and creating environmental risks be tolerated. Thus, Poland condemns Russia’s use of the shadow fleet, which causes disruptions in the Baltic and North Seas, and obstructs other maritime routes. When vessels sail under false flags or without insurance, they violate the international law of the sea and maritime law. Also, being aware of the potential attribution difficulties, they continue to target infrastructure with impunity. Therefore, all flag states are responsible for overseeing the vessels flying their flag and must ensure those vessels meet safety and environmental standards.

Mister President,

Poland believes that while the law of the sea, maritime law, and international law have limitations in protecting CUI, they still offer tools that can be applied to today’s security challenges. To this end, international cooperation, legal precision, and the uniform application of existing legal frameworks are essential. The protection of Critical Underwater Infrastructure must be proactive—focusing not only on prevention and response, but, above all, on effective deterrence.

Thank you, Mr President.