US launches $55M maritime security fund for Indo-Pacific nations

The United States has launched a $55 million maritime security fund to support Indo-Pacific nations, including the Philippines, in safeguarding their waters and combating illegal activities.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the funding during a ministerial meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

The meeting, co-hosted by the US, Philippines, Australia, Estonia, Greece, Japan, the Netherlands, Romania, and the United Kingdom, included around 40 countries discussing threats to shipping lanes and undersea infrastructure.

The funding will enable partner nations like the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pacific Island nations, and maritime South Asian nations to counter illicit activities and exercise sovereign rights.

Secretary Rubio criticized China's "expansive and unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea" and its enforcement tactics.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro urged countries to condemn violations of international maritime law and aggressive actions, emphasizing UNCLOS as the constitution of the ocean.