Delivered by: His Excellency Mohamed Abushahab, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative

Madam President,

The United Arab Emirates reaffirms its unreserved condemnation of the acts of sabotage against the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines one year ago.

Madam President,

The consistent and predictable supply of energy is a bedrock of the international order. The need for energy stability and security is something that unites countries around the world, large and small, developed and developing. The UAE, like all countries, relies upon the safety of transboundary energy infrastructure. Threats to such infrastructure are a matter of international peace and security and have been rightfully been addressed by this Council.

In resolution 2341, the Security Council highlighted “increasing cross-border critical infrastructure interdependencies”, including for the “generation, transmission and distribution of energy”. The Council further emphasized that protecting critical infrastructure demands cooperation “across borders with governmental authorities, foreign partners and private sector owners and operators of such infrastructure”.

Madam President,

Sabotage against transboundary energy infrastructure is a grave threat to international energy security. When such acts occur, it is vital that competent national authorities investigate. Investigations should be thorough and rigorously fact-based.

We note the ongoing investigations by relevant national authorities into the September 2022 acts of sabotage. The UAE welcomes the 21 February and 10 July 2023 joint letters from Denmark, Germany, and Sweden to the Security Council, which provided information about their respective investigations. We encourage further updates, as well as the expeditious conclusion of the ongoing investigations. We also urge transparency in sharing the findings of national investigations with relevant actors, as appropriate.

We continue to emphasize the value and importance of international coordination and cooperation in such investigations, and in this regard, we encourage increased cooperation with the pipeline operators, who have legitimate equities at stake in the ongoing investigations. The UAE’s own national experience demonstrates the usefulness of cooperation and information sharing in such situations.

Undoubtedly, all members of this Council share an interest in preventing acts of sabotage against transboundary energy infrastructure. Such acts must never be tolerated. We eagerly await the conclusion of the investigations into the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipeline explosions, the determination of what transpired, and the identification of those responsible, so that they may be held to account.

Thank you, Madam President.