To contribute to the global conversation on counter terrorism efforts and in support of Pillar II of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy on measures to prevent and combat terrorism, the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO), jointly with the Hellenic Republic and the Republic of Malta, will convene an interactive side event on ¡°Terrorism and Maritime Insecurity: Collective Efforts to Counter Terrorism in the Maritime Domain¡± on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, with the purpose of examining key aspects relating to enhancing the prevention and suppression of terrorist movement and activities in the maritime domain, strengthen the protection of ports and other critical infrastructure at sea, and address a multiple-threat environment that calls for closer scrutiny and renewed policy, cooperation and operational approaches.
The maritime domain is of high strategic interest to terrorists and organized crime actors who have historically exploited the sea as an arena not only for committing several types of offences involving vessels and installations, but also as a conduit to move around offenders and strategic goods, such as weapons. In comparison with illegal activities conducted via land and air transport modalities, those taking place at sea are often facilitated by the lack of physical border checkpoints as well as technical and logistical difficulties for national governments to monitor and manage movement across maritime borders and enforce laws over vast and often remote spaces. Considering the fast-evolving security landscape and growing capabilities, including new technologies, of terrorists and terrorist groups to exploit maritime routes and installations, the maritime sector benefits from increased scrutiny by the international community and strengthened exchange of information to detect and prevent the movement of terrorists, including foreign terrorist fighters.
In its resolutions , and , the Security Council stated that all Member States should prevent the movement of terrorists or terrorist groups, through effective border controls. Effective border management is of particular importance in preventing and disrupting the movement of foreign terrorist fighters, as emphasized by the Council in its resolutions 2178 (2014) and 2396 (2017). The protection of critical infrastructures, such as ports and those of the maritime domain, has also been addressed by the Council in its resolution . Border security includes controls on the movement of people and goods across borders, as well as the prevention of unlawful interference in maritime navigation and international cargo movement. In this regard, maritime routes should also be considered within broader efforts to prevent the travel and logistical support of foreign terrorist fighters, particularly where smaller vessels, ferries or commercial shipping routes may be used to bypass traditional aviation-focused monitoring and enforcement mechanisms. In most of these areas, international instruments and standards have been developed by specialized international organizations such as the IMO. The maritime domain also faces potential new and emerging threats by the increasing use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and information and communication technologies for terrorist purposes.
Speakers will draw attention to existing gaps, challenges, and vulnerabilities as well as good practices addressing such gaps in the maritime domain. Speakers will also highlight key initiatives supporting existing frameworks, processes, and mandates to address and strengthen maritime security, such as collection of passenger/crew data and protection of maritime domain as critical infrastructure. The discussions aim to underscore that securing this domain is not only essential to preventing terrorist mobility and logistical support but also requires sustained cooperation among Member States, UN entities, specialized agencies such as the IMO, regional partners, and the private sector/industry.
Draft agenda
Opening Session
Master of Ceremonies: Ms. Jin Gu, CTED
- Ms. Aglaia Balta, Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations
- Ms. Natasha Meli, Permanent Representative of Malta to the United Nations
- Mr. Alexandre Zouev, Acting Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT)
- Ms. Natalia Gherman, Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director, Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED)
Panel Discussion
Moderator: Mr. Jean-Philippe Morange, Senior Legal Officer, CTED
- Mr. Georgios Christianos, Rear Admiral HCG, Director of Operational Division, Hellenic Coast Guard (HCG), Hellenic Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy
- Ms. Alessia Carbone, Director for Transnational Threats and Sanctions, DG Global Issues, International Development & Economic Affairs, Maltese Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
- Ms. Anne-Maria Seesmaa, Legal Officer, CTED
- Ms. Christine Bradley, Chief of Section, Countering Terrorist Travel and Head of Office, UNOCT Programme Office, Budapest; Mr. Ignacio Ib¨¢?ez, Head, Madrid Programme Office and Coordinator, Vulnerable Targets Programme, Special Projects and Innovation Branch, UNOCT
- Mr. Jeremy Greenwood, Head of Maritime Security Section, Maritime Safety Division, International Maritime Organization
Intervention(s): United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, International Criminal Police Organization, World Customs Organization
Q&A
- Floor open for Q&A
Closing remarks
- Mr. Jean-Philippe Morange, Senior Legal Officer, CTED
Logistics
The side event will be held on Tuesday, 30 June from 13.15 p.m. to 14.45 p.m. in person at United Nations Headquarters, Conference Room 8 with hybrid participation available via Webex to accommodate speakers or attendees unable to join physically.
Prior registration is required for all those wishing to attend, whether in-person or online.
To attend the event, please register here: . All registered participants will receive the link to join the event the day before the event.
Due to limited capacity, in-person seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and will be confirmed prior to the event.
Representatives of Member States travelling from capitals and requiring UN grounds passes should be registered through the e-delegate portal: . Registration should be completed by the respective Permanent Missions.
Delegates already holding valid UN grounds passes may use their existing passes to access the Conference.
Participants from international and regional organizations, civil society, academia and other stakeholders who are not registered through Member State Permanent Missions should register through the Indico platform: .
The meeting will be conducted in English only, without any interpretation.
The draft concept note and agenda are available here.
To find out more about CTED¡¯s activities for Counter-Terrorism Week, please visit our dedicated page.