Abu Dhabi affirms commitment to deterrence, diplomacy, and international law while defending maritime navigation rights in the Strait of Hormuz.
ABU DHABI : The repeated targeting of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) vessels in the Strait of Hormuz will not alter the United Arab Emirates’ measured policy built on deterrence, diplomacy, and adherence to international law, Dr Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, said on Saturday.
The statement followed a fresh attack on an ADNOC vessel passing through the critical maritime passage on Friday evening. ADNOC confirmed the incident caused no injuries and that the situation was swiftly brought under control.
“The repeated targeting of ADNOC tankers will not deter the UAE from pursuing a balanced and rational policy based on three pillars: deterrence, diplomacy and adherence to international law,” Dr Gargash said in a statement on X.
Dr Gargash emphasized that while the UAE remains committed to open dialogue and diplomatic resolution, it will firmly safeguard its sovereignty, national interests, and the fundamental right to freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz under international law.
He highlighted the critical necessity of a unified regional response during times of escalated tension. The UAE, he noted, will continue working to solidify a collective Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) framework as a cornerstone for safeguarding regional stability and shared Gulf interests.
The Friday evening strike marks the latest in a series of hostile actions against maritime traffic in the waterway. Just a day prior, two other ADNOC vessels were targeted on Thursday evening. The UAE strongly condemned those strikes, attributing the Thursday attacks to Iran and labeling them a direct violation of international law and a severe threat to global shipping security.
Tensions have severely disrupted commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow choke point situated between Oman and Iran through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies transit. ADNOC previously reported that 15 of its vessels have been struck by missiles and drones while transiting the Strait since regional conflict escalated, resulting in one fatality and 20 injuries among crew members.
