Philippines joins 59 other nations in global pledge to protect freedom of navigation

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
October 14, 2026

Photo courtesy: Naval News

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has joined 59 other countries in an international commitment to protect freedom of navigation and oppose unlawful restrictions on ships passing through strategic waterways.

The European Union-led pledge, announced on Oct. 12 by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, reaffirms the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS as the legal framework governing activities in the world’s oceans and seas.

The commitment is backed by all 27 European Union member states and 33 countries outside the bloc, bringing the total number of participating nations to 60. Aside from the Philippines, supporters include Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Oman and Bahrain.

Under the pledge, countries committed to strengthening cooperation through international and regional maritime institutions, particularly the International Maritime Organization, while supporting defensive and non-escalatory efforts to preserve freedom of navigation.

The signatories also rejected coercive or unilateral actions that undermine the international maritime order and opposed measures that could obstruct lawful passage through straits used for international navigation.

These include unlawful fees or tolls, discriminatory restrictions, prior authorization requirements and other conditions inconsistent with international law. The declaration warned that disruptions to major maritime routes can affect global trade, energy supplies, food security and supply chains far beyond the waters where they occur.

The pledge does not single out China or any particular territorial dispute. It applies broadly to international straits and strategic waterways around the world.

For the Philippines, however, the commitment is consistent with its longstanding position that maritime disputes and navigation rights should be governed by UNCLOS. Manila has repeatedly invoked the convention in asserting its maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea, including through the 2016 South China Sea arbitral ruling.

The commitment also comes days after the Philippines and European Union held their second Security and Defence Dialogue in Manila, where both sides discussed maritime security and reaffirmed the importance of freedom of navigation and UNCLOS.