Aglaia Balta, Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations — Statement at the UN Security Council on the Situation in the Middle East (Yemen)
16 June 2026
Thank you Madame President.
I would like to thank Special Envoy Hans Grundberg and Under-Secretary- General Tom Fletcher, for their briefings and their committed dedication. And I also welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Yemen in this meeting.
Today, I would like to raise the following points:
Greece welcomes the announcement regarding the release of conflict- related detainees, the largest release agreed since the start of the conflict, which was achieved through sustained and dedicated consultations, under the auspices of the United Nations. We commend the continued engagement of Special Envoy Hans Grundberg and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and express our gratitude to Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman, and Switzerland for facilitating these consultations.
Beyond mitigating the suffering of detainees and their families, such measures can help build confidence among the parties, and contribute to creating a more conducive environment for dialogue. We strongly encourage that these efforts continue in accordance with international humanitarian law.
We express our full support for the Special Envoy’s efforts to revitalize the peace process toward a lasting political solution to the conflict, through an inclusive, Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned process, under the auspices of the UN, in full respect to Yemen’s unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
Madame President,
Two years have passed since 2024 arbitrary detentions by the Houthis of numerous personnel from the United Nations, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations and diplomatic missions. The Security Council has reiterated its strong condemnation of these illegal detentions in a Statement adopted on June 5th. We reaffirm our call for the immediate and unconditional release of all those arbitrarily detained by the Houthis, including the 73 UN staff members.
All humanitarian personnel must be granted safe, sustained, and unimpeded access to those in need, together with the necessary security guarantees to carry out their work, in accordance with international law, including international humanitarian law.
We remain deeply concerned by the worsening food insecurity in Yemen, which continues to affect millions and further exacerbates an already severe humanitarian situation. Urgent and sustained international support is required to address critical funding gaps, ensure the uninterrupted delivery of life-saving assistance, and prevent further deterioration of the situation.
Madame President,
Greece unequivocally condemns the recent missile attack carried out by the Houthis against Israel, and underscores the need to refrain from actions that could draw Yemen deeper into a regional crisis and jeopardize ongoing efforts to advance peace, stability, and a sustainable political settlement.
Furthermore, we condemn in the strongest terms the recent Houthis announcement for resumption of attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea region. Such threats are deeply alarming and evoke the dangerous pattern of attacks witnessed last year. These actions endanger freedom of navigation, threaten international maritime security, and risk further destabilizing the Red Sea region at a time when the international community is focusing on regional de-escalation, long-term security and the re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Any acts that threaten freedom of navigation are unacceptable and undermine the regional, but also the international stability, security, and prosperity. International maritime waterways and shipping routes must be safeguarded to ensure the open, safe, and uninterrupted passage of commercial shipping, which remains vital to global trade, energy security, and economic development.
Greece, remains steadfastly committed in advancing the importance of maritime security, and jointly with the United States, as co-penholder, supports the extension of the Secretary General’s monthly reporting requirement on Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, as envisaged in UNSC resolution 2812 (2026), for a further six-month period.
Finally, we continue our dedicated efforts in safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Red Sea region by actively supporting EU Naval Operation ASPIDES, within its defensive mandate, and in accordance with international law.
I thank you.