A&B, USA Co-Host Maritime Security Symposium

Antigua and Barbuda and the United States have co-hosted a global maritime security symposium aimed at strengthening international sanctions enforcement.

According to a U.S. Department of State media note, the Global Maritime Security and Sanctions Enforcement Symposium was held in St John’s from July 13th to 15th and was co-hosted by the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Marine Services and Merchant Shipping (ADOMS).

The Department of State said the symposium brought together representatives from ship registries, maritime authorities, international organisations and global coalitions, including the Registry Information Sharing Compact (RISC), from 26 countries.

It said participants focused on advancing enforcement of non-proliferation sanctions across the global maritime sector and denying rogue regimes revenue used to support weapons programmes.

The Department of State also said stronger international enforcement raises the cost of sanctions evasion, reduces the number of actors willing to service shadow fleet vessels and weakens the ability of proliferators to finance their weapons programmes.

The Department of State thanked the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and ADOMS for their partnership and reaffirmed its commitment to working with the global maritime community to enforce non-proliferation sanctions, disrupt proliferation financing and uphold international norms.