Dubrovnik, Croatia, June 26 (QNA) - HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi has said maritime security can no longer be the responsibility of any single country, warning that growing geopolitical rivalry, cyberattacks and threats to critical infrastructure require greater international cooperation.

Speaking at the Dubrovnik Forum in Croatia on Friday, HE Dr Al Khulaifi said recent developments in the Middle East had demonstrated how disruption to a narrow maritime passage could have far-reaching consequences for the global economy, energy markets and international supply chains.

He said freedom of navigation was not only a commercial interest but a cornerstone of international law, adding that open sea lanes were a strategic necessity for Qatar and the Gulf states, whose economies depend on a rules-based international trading system.

It is not believed the world is moving towards a system based on exclusive or politically controlled corridors, he said, warning that such an approach would lead to greater fragmentation and instability.

HE Dr Al Khulaifi said sustainable maritime security rests on three pillars: adherence to international law, freedom of navigation without discrimination, and diplomacy and the peaceful settlement of disputes. While military capabilities could deter threats, he said, they could not replace trust between states.

Drawing on Qatar's mediation experience, he argued that deterrence alone rarely delivers lasting security, and that durable stability requires dialogue, political solutions and diplomacy.

On the role of the United States, HE Dr Al Khulaifi said Washington remained an indispensable player in maritime security because of its naval capabilities and strategic presence. However, he added that recent regional events had shown military superiority does not necessarily translate into political stability.

He also highlighted the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass each day, stressing that it must remain open, secure and governed by international law.

Dr Al Khulaifi concluded by renewing Qatar's call for respect for international law, protection of critical maritime infrastructure, freedom of navigation and the peaceful resolution of disputes, saying diplomacy and dialogue remain the best guarantee of lasting maritime security. (QNA)