Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Zaqy Mohamad delivered the keynote address at the opening dinner of the 9^th International Maritime Security Conference (IMSC) at Jewel Changi Airport this evening. The 9^th IMSC, themed “Safe and Secure Seas”, will see over 400 international participants from navies, coast guards, maritime industries, academia, and think-tanks from more than 50 countries.

In his address, Mr Zaqy highlighted the importance of upholding the rules-based maritime order and preserving peace in the global maritime commons. He said, “(A rules-based order) ensures that no one state, or actor can unilaterally claim or disrupt the established rights of others. It promotes stability by encouraging predictable behaviour, fostering diplomatic dialogue as an avenue to peaceful resolution between parties, and deterring unlawful activities such as piracy and illegal fishing.” On the importance of building trust through practical cooperation and dialogue, Mr Zaqy said,  “at the strategic level, open and inclusive dialogue remains essential to building confidence amongst policymakers, which the larger maritime community takes the lead from. Central to these efforts are platforms such as the IMSC.”

The IMSC will feature plenaries on geo-political developments and their implications on the maritime domain, the importance of mutual cooperation and collaboration in our current context, as well as the impact of new developments on contemporary maritime issues. The speakers will include leaders from navies and maritime enforcement agencies around the world, as well as academics and subject matter experts on maritime security.

Co-organised by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, the IMSC is held in conjunction with the International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (IMDEX) Asia 2025. Established in 2009, the IMSC brings together navy chiefs, leaders from maritime enforcement agencies, policymakers, and strategic thinkers to exchange ideas and discuss ways to enhance and foster mutual security in our maritime commons.