International cooperation is crucial in raising maritime domain awareness and addressing “persistent” issues in maritime security and marine resources and infrastructure, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said.

Speaking during the Ministerial Meeting on Protection of Critical Maritime Infrastructure at the 4th European Union (EU) Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum (IPMF) recently held in Brussels, Belgium, the secretary called on countries to design their actions on strong multilateral system built on the rule of law to address maritime domain challenges.

“(The) faithful implementation of (international law), especially in the maritime domain, is crucial to reducing conflicts,” the DFA statement quoted Lazaro.

“The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea remains the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out. UNCLOS, as reaffirmed through legally-binding rulings, such as the 2016 Arbitral Award in the South China Sea, should be observed,” she added.

The DFA chief referenced the Philippines’ arbitral victory that rejected the basis of China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea, a vital sea lane where one-third of global trade passes by each year.

As the chair of the 2026 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits and Related Meetings, Lazaro said the Philippines—under the theme “Navigating our future, together”—envisions an ASEAN “steering and shaping the geopolitical landscape towards a rules-based, stable and prosperous future.”

She was one of the speakers at the roundtable session on “Security Priorities in the Face of Current Geopolitical Developments,” which she co-moderated with the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission (HRVP) Kaja Kallas.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Lazaro said that she underscored how “international cooperation is essential in addressing persistent and emerging challenges in the maritime domain, including protecting critical undersea infrastructure that sustains global connectivity” during a panel discussion at the Ministerial Meeting on the Protection of Critical Maritime Infrastructure.

She also welcomed the EU’s initiatives to raise awareness about the Indo-Pacific region’s maritime domain and reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment “to pursuing deeper cooperation on cybersecurity, data protection, and technical assistance to ensure the security of maritime infrastructure from induced risks.”

On the sidelines of the meetings, the official met with her counterparts—the foreign ministers of Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, Netherlands, Romania, and Slovakia.

The fourth iteration of the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum brought together around 70 top diplomats and government officials from the EU institutions and 27 member-states, 11 ASEAN members, Indo-Pacific countries, and regional organizations from across the Indo-Pacific region.