New York, USA (15 – 19 June 2026) – The 36th Meeting of States Parties to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (SPLOS) was held in New York in mid-June and I was honoured to attend the event and provide remarks in my second year as Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority. I previously posted on this part of the mission which you can read more about here.
On Monday, 15 June 2026, I was invited to deliver my remarks to all 172 Parties to UNCLOS, comprised of 171 States and the European Union. It was an important opportunity to update States Parties on the progress achieved by the ISA Council towards the adoption of a robust and consistent regulatory framework for deep-sea mineral exploitation, one that reflects the highest standards of environmental protection.
It was a valuable opportunity to reaffirm the ISA Secretariat´s commitment to multilateralism and the rule of law to safeguard the principle of the common heritage of humankind and the integrity of the UNCLOS-based regime against possible unilateral actions.
I also briefed the UNCLOS States Parties on the ISA’s latest achievements in marine scientific research, capacity-building and training initiatives, as well as on the inaugural International Day of the Deep Seabed, which was celebrated for the first time on 1 November 2025.
The priorities ahead of Part II of the 31st Session of the ISA Council and Assembly were the central focus of my engagements with Member States and partners in New York.
My first bilateral engagement was with the new Permanent Representative of the Republic of Mauritius to the ISA, H.E. Mr. Milan J.N. Meetarbhan, who presented his credentials on that occasion.
My next meeting was with the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the UN, H.E. Mr. Abdulaziz M. Alwasil. I was very pleased to hear from him that Saudi Arabia values three key pillars embedded in the ISA regime: environmental protection, responsible use of resources for human benefit, as well as science and innovation.
Furthermore, Ambassador Alwasil expressed his country´s willingness to deepen the cooperation with the ISA in capacity-building and technology initiatives linked to, for example, the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)Coral Restoration Initiative in the Red Sea, and a possible establishment of an ISA-Saudi regional training centre.
Cooperation was at the heart of my engagement with the Deputy Special Representative of the International Criminal Police Organization, INTERPOL, to the United Nations, Mr. Dominique Bahorera. I had the opportunity to brief him on the ISA´s mandate and the Area, and how the Council is advancing the work towards the establishment of the Mining Code.
My exchange with Mr. Bahorera provided an opportunity to learn more about how INTERPOL handles unlawful and unreported seabed activities and to be informed about its Environmental Security Unit and Maritime Security Unit.
I was very pleased that our meeting concluded with his welcoming continued engagement with the ISA, and an offer to explore cooperation within each organization’s mandate, including in identifying potential funding-project opportunities.
In my meeting with the Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the UN, H.E. Mr. Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, we discussed its application for the approval of a plan of work for the exploration of polymetallic nodules as sponsor of Impossible Metals Bahrain. The request will be considered during Part II of the 31st Session by the Legal and Technical Commission.
I also shared more about ISA´s capacity building and training opportunities for professionals from developing States and I encouraged the Permanent Representative to mobilize interested participants when cohorts open. I was pleased to hear from H.E. Mr. Fares Alrowaiei his appreciation for my recommendations, the country’s commitment to UNCLOS, and the willingness for Bahrain – a State that prioritizes maritime security – to work closely with the ISA.
With Permanent Representative of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the UN, H.E. Mr. Michael Kanu, I had the chance to address the intersessional work ahead of Part II of the 31st Session, including the publication of a third version of the Council´s Further Revised Consolidated Text (Rev.3) which is now available online.
I also offered my availability to H.E. Mr. Kanu for one-hour briefings sessions with the ISA Office of Legal Affairs dedicated to addressing questions of interest to the African Group. I will be delighted to engage on all matters of interest to this important group of member States.
Since I took office, I have held similar briefings with Permanent Representatives of ISA Member States and their focal points in New York and Kingston as well as with Pacific Island States on my last mission. I look forward to engaging with all regional groups, including close coordination with LLDCs, on a regular basis to ensure inclusivity and the valuable inputs of all voices.
My bilateral with the Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to the UN, H.E. Mr. Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, also included an exchange on the Revised Consolidated Text and an update on the list of the outstanding issues. I had the chance to inform the Ambassador that a revised, shorter list is now available on the website to demonstrate progress, building on the 32 outstanding issues identified in Part I of the current Session, held in March, of which 29 were forwarded for resolution.
I was very pleased to hear that Bangladesh intends to keep its active participation in the ISA Council and the Finance Committee.
My week in New York was very productive, opening opportunities to establish partnerships with INTERPOL and KAUST. It underscored the growing engagement of the Arab States of the Persian Gulf in matters of deep-sea ocean governance, while also reaffirming the commitment of African Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to the mandate of the ISA and UNCLOS. It was encouraging to conclude my last mission before the start of Part II of the 31st Session on such a positive note, with renewed confidence in our shared commitments to advancing the work of the ISA.
Leticia Carvalho,
Secretary-General, International Seabed Authority.