Minister Fearne calls for a stronger Commonwealth role in protecting maritime security

Minister Fearne calls for a stronger Commonwealth role in protecting maritime security The Commonwealth must take a clear stance in favour of freedom of navigation in the high seas and give greater importance to the protection of critical undersea infrastructure. This was the appeal of the Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Chris Fearne, during an intervention at the Commonwealth meetings taking place in Antigua and Barbuda. Minister Fearne expressed concern about threats to maritime security, particularly in areas such as the Red Sea, and stressed that the Commonwealth should be more active in defending freedom of maritime passage, in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. He also stressed the need to pay more attention to the security of undersea infrastructure, including communication lines, interconnectors and pipelines. As an island state, Malta relies on this infrastructure for essential services, including digital communication and international connectivity. Minister Fearne argued that, at a time when multilateralism is facing increasing challenges, the Commonwealth must strengthen its voice in favour of democracy, international cooperation and respect for the common principles that unite member countries. In a separate intervention during the Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting on Small Countries, Minister Fearne called for more support so that these countries can obtain funding for projects related to climate change. He encouraged member countries to make greater use of the Commonwealth Centre of Excellence for Small Countries, based in Malta, which helps them address the challenges of climate change and obtain the necessary funding. The Minister explained that member countries have already managed to obtain funding with the help of the Centre's work and called for further cooperation so that more countries can benefit. Through these interventions, Malta is continuing to bring to the international agenda issues that directly affect the security, connectivity and resilience of small countries, while promoting a more active and effective role for the Commonwealth. Photos (MFEA)