Geopolitical tensions across key maritime routes are reshaping the global trade landscape, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei said, warning that disruptions in strategic waterways pose a serious risk to supply chains, commodity prices, and broader economic stability.

Speaking at the Transport and Logistics Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, Al Mazrouei said the world must adopt a more proactive, coordinated response to rising geopolitical risks, particularly in corridors that serve as critical arteries of global commerce.

The forum was inaugurated by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said Russia is accelerating efforts to digitize the transport market and expand logistics and autonomous systems. He added that the country is open to sharing expertise and launching joint science and technology initiatives to build a transport system suited to 21st-century demands.

Putin also described transport and logistics as central to the global economy, while acknowledging that both sectors are undergoing significant transformation amid growing geopolitical uncertainty.

During the opening ministerial session, Al Mazrouei outlined the UAE’s vision for an integrated and resilient transport and logistics ecosystem designed to respond to increasingly complex global challenges.

He said that tensions in maritime corridors, including threats to the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on commercial vessels and oil and gas tankers, represent an unprecedented risk to global supply chains, with immediate consequences for market stability and rising prices. He stressed that safeguarding freedom of navigation and securing supply routes must be a collective international priority.

Al Mazrouei said pressure on strategic maritime corridors in the region sets a dangerous precedent for the global trading system. These routes, he noted, are essential to the world economy and should never be subject to actions that endanger their security or the safety of navigation.

“Protecting the freedom of navigation and ensuring the safety of vessels and seafarers is a shared responsibility of the international community,” he said. “We must unify efforts and stand together to confront any actions that may undermine the stability of supply chains or expose the marine environment to the risks of pollution.”

He added that no country has the right to disrupt global trade flows or threaten supply routes, warning that any failure to respond decisively could have far-reaching implications for energy security, food systems, and the global economy.

Al Mazrouei also highlighted the UAE’s efforts to future-proof its logistics infrastructure through long-term investment in advanced multimodal transport. He pointed to the country’s national railway network, spanning more than 900 kilometers and linking ports on both the eastern and western coasts, as a key part of that strategy.

He said the UAE’s integrated land and maritime transport systems, supported by strong federal infrastructure, are helping the country adapt quickly to external shocks while offering efficient alternatives for freight movement.

The minister also underscored the significance of regional connectivity projects, including the Hafeet Rail Project with Oman, which he said will deepen economic integration and expand trade capacity. He reiterated the UAE’s readiness to complete and expand the GCC railway network.

Al Mazrouei further highlighted the role of UAE ports as global re-export hubs, connecting regional and international markets and reinforcing the country’s position as a major node in global trade flows.

Looking ahead, he said the next phase will require stronger international coordination and sustained investment in alternative trade corridors, smart infrastructure, and resilient logistics systems to ensure supply chains remain secure under all circumstances.

On the sidelines of the forum, Al Mazrouei held bilateral meetings with several officials, including Andrey Nikitin and Makhkamov Ilkhom Rustamovich.

The discussions focused on expanding cooperation and strengthening strategic partnerships in transport and logistics, as well as exchanging expertise in infrastructure development and improving regional and international connectivity.

Al Mazrouei attended the event with a high-level UAE delegation that included senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, as well as representatives from Etihad Rail and other national entities operating in the transport and logistics sector.

The participation reflects the UAE’s broader push to deepen international partnerships and strengthen its presence in a sector that remains central to the future of global trade.