Delivered by: HE Maqsoud Kruse, Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Countering Extremism and Counterterrorism

Mr. President,

Excellencies,

Distinguished Delegates,

Twenty years after its adoption, the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy remains a unique global framework, uniting Member States around a shared commitment to prevent and counter terrorism within an international law framework.

We commend the Co-Facilitators of the ninth Review, the Kingdom of Morocco and Finland, for their dedicated efforts.

After months of rapid discussions, ongoing deliberations and several rounds of formal and informal negotiations, Member States were unable to agree on substantive revisions to the Strategy. This reflects the growing challenge of sustaining consensus in a threat environment that is becoming more complex, interconnected and contested. Yet the threat will not wait for consensus.

At a time of increasing global uncertainty and rapid technological transformation, the extremist and terrorist threats continue to evolve in complexity, scale, and reach. Extremism and terrorism today are no longer confined to a single geography, organization, or ideology. Rather, we are witnessing a diffusion into decentralized regional networks enabled by emerging technologies, illicit financial flows, online radicalization, spread of extremism narratives, and transnational criminal linkages. Extremist groups terrorist organizations are increasingly exploiting cyberspace, advanced technologies, and artificial intelligence to recruit, finance operations, and spread their ideologies. This demands closer international cooperation in cybersecurity and greater coordination to prevent the misuse of digital platforms and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes. These developments require responses that are equally adaptive, coordinated, and forward-looking.

Furthermore, the proliferation of unmanned aerial systems is  enabling extremist and terrorist groups and armed proxies to access increasingly capable systems. One defining implication of this shift is speed: technological change is occurring on a timescale of months rather than years, challenging institutions and international cooperation to keep pace.

For the United Arab Emirates, this is not abstract.

The UAE has long held that extremism and terrorism cannot be defeated by military, security, or policing approaches alone. Effective counter extremism and terrorism requires a comprehensive and multidimensional approach that addresses both immediate threats and the conditions conducive to radicalization. This includes disrupting terrorist financing, securing borders, countering online extremist narratives and incitement of hate and violence, preventing the exploitation of religion for radicalization, and promoting inclusion, tolerance, and coexistence.

UAE’s approach is based on the implementation of long-term prevention initiatives combined with practical interventions that aim at targeting the root causes of all forms of extremism, hate and intolerance.

The United Arab Emirates reiterates its unequivocal rejection of extremism and terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. We further stress that counter extremism and terrorism efforts must remain firmly grounded in international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.

In this regard, the UAE has experienced firsthand the threat posed by the misuse of unmanned aerial systems against civilian targets and critical infrastructure. It underscores a need for cooperation to address the evolving tech capabilities available to terrorist groups and their affiliates. Recent attacks targeting the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the UAE underscore the threat posed to critical infrastructure when new and emerging technologies are being used targeting civilian infrastructure.

In an era of rapid technological change, the challenge is ensuring that institutions and capabilities to prevent and counter threats can adapt as quickly as the threats themselves. To meet this challenge, the UAE offers three recommendations.

First, we must strengthen international cooperation within the framework of international law and translate existing guidance into practical capabilities. The UAE worked with Member States to develop the Abu Dhabi Guiding Principles on the terrorist use of unmanned aerial systems, during its Chairmanship of the Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee in demonstrations of how we can work collectively to address terrorist use of unmanned aerial systems. The priority now is implementation by establishing stronger information-sharing, targeted capacity-building and closer cooperation with the private sector to help Member States build operational capabilities to prevent and counter threats posed in this regard.

Second, we must invest in capacity-building and institutional readiness. Governments need the skills, expertise and operational capacity to keep pace with emerging technologies. The UAE continues to invest in AI, cybersecurity and digital resilience. IN 2025, the UAE announced a one-billion-dollar AI for Development Initiative to strengthen AI infrastructure, develop skills and expand AI-enabled services across Africa. Through our engagement with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, including its Advisory Board, we will continue supporting capacity-building that help Member States prepare for emerging threats.

Third, security and law enforcement measures alone are not sufficient. We must address the key drivers of extremism and terrorism to ensure effective counter-terrorism outcomes. UAE’s approach is based on the implementation of long-term prevention initiatives combined with practical interventions that aim at targeting the root causes of all forms of extremism, hate and intolerance. In this regard, the UAE is a host of renowned international institutions and has launched several initiatives that advance prevention from a holistic perspective and strengthen international cooperation. For example, the UAE hosts Hedayah, The International Center of Excellence for Countering Extremism and Violent Extremism, which is the first inspired institution by the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF) in which it provides a cutting edge research and evidence based practices such as pioneering research and programs examining how extremist groups and terrorist organizations may exploit generative AI for recruitment and propaganda, while also exploring how emerging technologies can strengthen early detection and prevention efforts. The UAE also continues to support digital counter-extremism initiatives through the SAWAB Center, which works to counter extremist narratives in the digital space. Furthermore, the UAE hosts the Council of Muslim Elders and the Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace.

We also continue to advance the Tolerance, Peace and Security agenda, including pursuant to Security Council resolution 2686. Through partnerships with Member States, the United Nations and New York University (NYU), we are working to strengthen the implementation of prevention approaches that promote tolerance and societal resilience and address vulnerabilities that extremist and terrorist groups exploit to spread extremism, fuel instability and incite hate, discrimination and violence.

Mr. President,

We must ensure that the United Nations counter-terrorism architecture remains fit for purpose. Efforts to strengthen coordination, reduce duplication and focus resources on the implementation of relevant programming will ensure that the United Nations remains able to support and meet the needs of Member States to effectively prevent and counter evolving terrorism threats.

Member States may differ on priorities and approaches. Yet the need to adapt is not in dispute. The measure of our success will not be the number of resolutions we adopt or paragraphs we negotiate. It is whether we prevent attacks and protect our people by strengthening resilience and staying ahead of those who seek to exploit emerging technologies and vulnerabilities for terrorist purposes.

The UAE stresses that the fight against extremism and terrorism requires a holistic, balanced, and coordinated approach — one that integrates security, development, tolerance and human rights. We underscore the urgency of enhanced international cooperation to address emerging threats through stronger intelligence sharing, closer regulatory coordination on virtual assets and decentralized financial systems, greater cybersecurity cooperation, and deeper collaboration to prevent the misuse of advanced technologies by terrorist actors. Political will remains present; what is now needed is sustained coordination and practical action. We look forward to working with Member States to advance our shared goal of eliminating extremism and terrorism in all its forma and manifestations and building a safer, more peaceful and stable world for all.

Thank you.