by Steven Jones MNM FRSA AFNI
Admiral Pavlopoulos’s illuminating presentation at the 2nd Maritime Security Conference provided a sobering assessment of the current threats to maritime security, particularly along what he termed the “axis of war and turbulence” stretching from the Black Sea to the Red Sea. His observation that “TRUST has to be restored” in these vital shipping corridors prompted reflection on the fundamental importance of freedom of navigation in our global system.
While his technical analysis of security threats was meticulous, it was his emphasis on the erosion of confidence in safe passage that resonated most profoundly with me, as a student of International Relations. This crisis of trust in maritime corridors represents more than a logistical challenge—it strikes at the heart of the international order that has underpinned decades of globalisation and prosperity.
As protectionism and nationalism rise globally, defending the principle of unfettered navigation becomes not merely an economic imperative but a defence of the constructivist foundations of international cooperation itself.
The erosion of trust in safe passage routes is indeed a fundamental challenge to global commerce and international relations today.
Freedom of navigation represents one of the most essential pillars of the global economic system. When shipping routes become unreliable or dangerous—as we’ve seen with the 70% reduction in Red Sea traffic mentioned in the presentation—the consequences ripple throughout the entire global economy. This disruption goes far beyond simple logistics delays:
- It fragments global supply chains that have been optimised over decades
- It increases costs for consumers worldwide as shipping expenses rise
- It reinforces nationalist economic tendencies and self-sufficiency arguments
- It creates imbalances in regional economic development
- It threatens the maritime commons as a shared global resource
Admiral Pavlopoulos’s emphasis on rebuilding trust is particularly insightful. Once confidence in safe passage is broken, it takes significant time and consistent effort to restore. The presentation’s assessment that normalisation will take time, even with decisive action, underscores how fragile these systems of trust are.
In the context of rising protectionism and nationalism, maintaining freedom of navigation becomes even more critical as a counterbalance. It serves as a practical embodiment of international cooperation and the rules-based order. When ships from diverse nations can travel safely through global waterways, it reinforces the tangible benefits of internationalism over isolationism.
The situation highlights how security and economics are inseparable in maritime affairs. Without security guarantees and international cooperation to ensure freedom of navigation, the economic case for globalisation weakens substantially—providing further ammunition for nationalist economic policies.
The deeper significance of freedom of navigation beyond mere transit rights. The concept itself represents a cornerstone of international order that’s currently under threat. Such freedom of navigation is not simply a static legal principle but a socially constructed norm that has evolved through centuries of interaction, negotiation, and shared understanding. When this concept becomes “hijacked” or contested, it signals a fundamental shift in the international order itself.
Hugo Grotius’ “Mare Liberum” established the seas as a common heritage of humanity rather than territory to be claimed. This principle, though initially a push back against British sea power, helped prevent endless maritime territorial disputes and facilitated global commerce. But it requires collective enforcement and agreement to maintain – exactly what’s being tested in places like the Red Sea and Black Sea today.
The Mackinder “World Island” theory gains even greater relevance when we recognise that sea control effectively determines land power. However, lest we forget, islands fundamentally depend on maritime access. When maritime choke points become weaponised, as Admiral Pavlopoulos describes, it is not just shipping that’s threatened but the entire foundation of interconnected global systems.
The crisis we’re witnessing reflects more than just physical disruption of shipping lanes – it represents a challenge to the normative foundations of international order. When freedom of navigation becomes negotiable rather than fundamental, it signals a retreat from the liberal international order toward a more transactional, power-based system where might increasingly determines right.
Returning to “unfettered navigation” as a fundamental principle requires recommitment at multiple levels – diplomatic, military, commercial, and ideological. Without this shared commitment, the constructivist foundations of maritime order risk continuing erosion, with profound implications for global stability and prosperity.
Steven Jones MNM FRSA AFNI
