New York, 26 October 2026 – Kazakhstan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Kairat Umarov, addressed a high-level open debate of the UN Security Council on “Emerging Technologies and Maritime Security: Implications for Peace and Security” chaired by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
In his remarks, the Kazakh diplomat stressed that attacks involving unmanned systems against civilian vessels and critical energy infrastructure are unacceptable, particularly when they affect countries that are not parties to armed conflicts. He underscored the importance of upholding international law, safeguarding freedom of navigation, and protecting international transport routes.
Special attention was given to Kazakhstan’s initiatives aimed at strengthening transport and digital connectivity between Europe and Asia, as well as the Global North and South. These include the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor), the prospects of the TRIPP project, and the implementation of the Digital Trade Corridor platform, which has reduced transit customs processing times from eight hours to just 30 minutes. The statement also highlighted the launch of a 380-kilometer undersea fiber-optic cable across the Caspian Sea, jointly developed by Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, to enhance regional digital connectivity.
Addressing the security of critical infrastructure, Mr. Umarov emphasized the importance of international cooperation on cybersecurity, satellite monitoring, and the protection of navigation systems. He also presented an initiative by Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to establish a joint digital platform for monitoring the Caspian Sea ecosystem.