Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Social and Family Development Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim's Remarks at the Second Plenary Session of the Ninth Indian Ocean Conference in Mauritius, 11 April 2026

Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Social and Family Development Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim is in Mauritius to attend the Ninth Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) from 10 to 12 April 2026. The theme of this year’s conference is “Collective Stewardship for Indian Ocean Governance”, which focuses on the need for countries across the region to work together to manage shared challenges such as maritime security, environmental sustainability, and economic resilience.

Singapore is an early supporter of the IOC and has consistently participated in this annual conference, which fosters critical and open dialogue between governments and communities on pressing issues in the Indian Ocean. As a maritime nation, Singapore is committed to working with partners to enhance regional cooperation and promote a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indian Ocean.

MOS Zhulkarnain addressed leaders, policy makers and experts at the Second Plenary session. In his speech, MOS Zhulkarnain underscored the need for collective action to uphold a rules-based international order. He highlighted that protecting the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), including the freedom of navigation, is essential to strengthening our connectivity, economic resilience, and security, which safeguards the everyday lives of our peoples. The transcript of MOS Zhulkarnain’s remarks is at Annex.

While in Mauritius, MOS Zhulkarnain met Bangladesh Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Khalilur Rahman, Egypt Deputy Minister for African Affairs Mohamed Abu Bakr, Mauritius Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and International Trade Dhananjay Ramful, and Mauritius Minister of Land Transport Mahomed Osman Cassam Mahomed. MOS Zhulkarnain will also meet Bhutan Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade D N Dhungyel, Nepal Minister of Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal, Seychelles Minister for Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Barry Faure, and Tanzania Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Mahmoud Thabit Kombo over the course of the conference.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

11 APRIL 2026

Annex

TRANSCRIPT OF MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT ZHULKARNAIN ABDUL RAHIM’S REMARKS AT THE SECOND PLENARY SESSION OF THE NINTH INDIAN OCEAN CONFERENCE, 11 APRIL 2026

Mr Chairman M J Akbar,

Fellow Panellists,

Excellencies,

Distinguished Delegates,

1        It gives me great pleasure to address you today at the 9th Indian Ocean Conference. Before I begin, let me extend my appreciation to Minister Dhananjay Ramful for hosting this conference. I would also like to thank Dr Ram Madhav, President of the India Foundation, and the team at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, for bringing us together at this critical moment. This year's theme of “Collective Stewardship for Indian Ocean Governance” is a timely reminder of the need for collective action to manage the global commons at a time when the rules-based international order is being eroded.

The Strategic Imperative of the Indian Ocean

2        For centuries, the Indian Ocean has served as humanity's great highway of commerce, culture, and connection. Today, it remains the world's third-largest ocean, carrying the lifeblood of global trade. Over 80 per cent of global seaborne trade by volume traverses these waters, including approximately 40 per cent of the world's offshore oil production and two-thirds of global oil shipments.

3        The maritime corridors of the Indian Ocean - from the Strait of Hormuz to the Strait of Malacca and Singapore, and from the Suez Canal to the Cape of Good Hope - are the critical nodes upon which global trade and prosperity depend. As the Indian Ocean bridges Africa, Europe and Asia, a single disruption in these waters reverberates across these continents, affecting everything from fuel prices in Europe and Asia to food supplies in Africa.

4        For Singapore, which handled a record nearly 45 million TEUs last year, this is not an academic discussion - it is our lifeblood. Maintaining these connections is essential to keeping our supply chains open and resilient, and ensuring that we remain connected to the world. This is true for every nation represented here today, whether you are a major port or a landlocked country dependent on maritime trade.

The US/Israel-Iran conflict and Maritime Disruptions

5        Today, the stability we have long taken for granted faces severe challenges. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has demonstrated how quickly regional tensions can escalate into global crises affecting maritime trade. While the ceasefire between the United States and Iran offers a brief moment of relief, it is a temporary reprieve and not a return to normalcy. Singapore welcomes the commitment under the ceasefire agreement to restore shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. We call on all parties to uphold their obligations under international law, and restore safe and unimpeded transit passage in the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

6        The closure and conditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz have exposed just how fragile global supplies are, and how quickly law, commerce and geopolitics can collide. We have witnessed attacks on commercial vessels, disruptions to vital shipping lanes, and the weaponisation of maritime trade routes in pursuit of political ends. These actions have disastrous consequences for global shipping, trade, and supply chain resilience. To give an example, the risk insurance of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz has risen by 200 to 300 percent since the start of the conflict. This has forced major carriers to either suspend voyage through the Gulf or divert cargo away from the Strait, which would lengthen transit times. Supply chains that took decades to optimise have been disrupted overnight.

7        As we have experienced to varying degrees in recent weeks, these disruptions have real consequences for all of us in the Indian Ocean region. They underscore a sobering reality that in our interconnected world, no country can remain insulated from maritime insecurity. Asia, for instance, could plunge into an economic crisis as a result of a blockage in the Strait of Hormuz, given its dependence on oil and gas from the Middle East. Oil and energy prices in Asia are already rising due to limited supplies, threatening economies and livelihoods.

Food Security and Climate Challenges

8        The Indian Ocean also serves as a vital corridor for global food security. Agricultural products, fertilisers, and fishing yields from our region feed millions worldwide. A third of the global trade in raw material for fertiliser for instance pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Disruption in these supplies will have a severe impact on food prices which could precipitate a global hunger crisis.

9        Climate change compounds these challenges. The Indian Ocean recorded its highest average surface temperature in 2024.  Such rising sea temperatures threaten marine ecosystems and fishing yields. For low-lying island states like Singapore, Mauritius, and our Pacific Island friends, this is not just an environmental concern – it is an existential threat.

A World Under Strain and The Erosion of Rules-Based Order

10      The Middle East crisis is function of a broader global pattern of instability where institutions, processes and norms that have anchored the global system are breaking down. Long-established principles of multilateral cooperation and respect for international law are being undermined. There is a trend of countries being driven now by a narrower definition of national interest. Some are even willing to weaponise all levers in their hands – currency, technology, trade, critical minerals and maritime chokepoints. These levers that used to bind us together through interdependence and fostered an era of peace and prosperity are now tools for exploitation.

The Effect on Small States like Singapore

11      The cumulative effect is a more dangerous world for small states like Singapore. The breakdown of trust limits cooperation and increases costs as the need for hedging and contingency planning will place inflationary pressures across economies. Nations are reducing dependencies and restructuring their economic engagement. The global economy is being reconfigured from prioritising efficiency to emphasising resilience and security. The consequences arising from the Middle East conflict has already reshaped markets, shaken confidence, and altered how states assess risk and security. What comes next will not return us to the world we knew before. For countries like Singapore, the lesson is clear: the rules that keep sea lanes open must not only be defended, but they must also be strengthened.

UNCLOS: More Critical Than Ever

12      This is precisely why it is now more important than ever that maritime routes remain open and that we uphold the rule of law, specifically the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. UNCLOS provides the comprehensive legal framework that guarantees freedom of navigation, establishes clear maritime boundaries, and ensures equitable access to marine resources. It is the constitution of our oceans, and its principles must be upheld without compromise.

13      This is essential for a peaceful and prosperous Indian Ocean. UNCLOS keeps littoral states like Singapore connected to the world, and our supply chains open and resilient. In practical terms, this means that when a ship leaves Mumbai, Colombo, or Singapore, that vessel does not need to seek permission from, or pay tribute to, anyone to decide where it will call next. This is not merely a technical arrangement – it is the foundation of our global trading system. This is also why Singapore co‑sponsored the UAE’s proposal for the Council Declaration condemning Iran’s attacks on vessels and its threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, as well as Japan’s proposal to establish a safe maritime corridor at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), both of which were successfully adopted by consensus.

New Forms of Cooperation

14      Notwithstanding these gloomy times, there is always a silver lining to every cloud and I wish to end my speech on a positive note. 

15      The rules-based multilateral system, while eroded, has not been abandoned. Most countries, including Europe, Japan, ASEAN, and all of us gathered here, still subscribe to the UN Charter and believe in multilateral processes. We must continue to strengthen and reform global institutions like the WTO and the United Nations, so that they remain effective and relevant. All of us here continue to support multilateral platforms like the IOC that foster critical and open dialogue between governments and communities on pressing issues in the Indian Ocean.

16      At the same time, we also need more flexible approaches to cooperation. One practical way is for smaller groups of like-minded countries and partners to create plurilateral arrangements that complement, rather than replace the multilateral system.

17      We already see this approach at work in maritime governance. Singapore is developing green shipping corridors to support the decarbonisation of maritime transport. In the Indian Ocean specifically, we are contributing to the Silk Alliance initiative, which aims to enable zero-emission shipping across the Indian and Pacific Oceans. You may also recall the successful conclusion of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) treaty in 2023, which Singapore Ambassador Rena Lee presided over. Aimed at conserving and sustainably using marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction in the high seas, the BBNJ will contribute to the protection and sustainability of the rich resources in the Indian Ocean.

18      In September 2025, Singapore, together with New Zealand, the UAE and Switzerland, co convened the Future of Investment and Trade Partnership (FIT P) to uphold a rules based trading system and promote openness and inclusiveness in global trade. On 31 March 2026, FIT P members issued a Joint Statement on Maintaining Open and Resilient Supply Chains, reaffirming our commitment to keep land routes, air hubs and seaports open so trade can flow unimpeded.

19      Such multiple, overlapping groupings of like-minded countries, working together to address common challenges, including on the maritime front, will allow us to navigate geopolitical headwinds and make progress. If designed well, these groupings can complement and reinforce each other and serve as building blocks for a more resilient global architecture over time.

Conclusion

20      So let me conclude by saying that in these uncertain times, we must recommit to the principles of collective stewardship. Our path forward requires us to maintain a rules-based global order, honour international treaties, resolve disputes peacefully through dialogue, and work towards a sustainable future. The challenges we face – from maritime security threats and climate change to energy and food security – are too complex for any single country to address alone. The choices we make today will determine whether future generations inherit an Indian Ocean that remains open, secure, and sustainable, or one fractured by conflict and degraded by neglect.

21      The voyage ahead requires all hands on deck. This conference is an opportunity to exchange ideas and explore potential cooperation to enhance regional cooperation and promote a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indian Ocean. Let us not be mere passengers of history but stewards of its course. For in uncertain seas, it is not the strength of the storm, but the unity of the crew and fleet that determines the journey ahead. I look forward to the constructive discussions ahead.

Thank you.

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