Exploring the dimensions of maintaining international peace and security at sea in light of the Law of the Sea Convention

Background and Theoretical Basis: International peace and security at sea are confronted with a range of contemporary threats, including piracy and armed robbery against ships, maritime terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) through maritime transport, and the militarization of ocean spaces. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provides the overarching legal framework for maintaining maritime peace and security, yet significant gaps and interpretive disputes persist. This article examines the legal dimensions of maintaining international peace and security at sea under UNCLOS.Methodology: This study adopts a doctrinal and analytical methodology supported by library-based research. Primary sources include UNCLOS, the ۱۹۸۸ Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (SUA Convention) and its ۲۰۰۵ Protocol, United Nations Security Council resolutions, and relevant judicial decisions. Secondary sources include academic monographs, peer-reviewed journal articles, and reports of international organizations such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The analysis is problem-oriented and comparative, focusing on piracy, maritime terrorism, WMD proliferation, military activities in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and nuclear-weapon-free zones (NWFZs).Findings: The findings indicate that while UNCLOS establishes universal jurisdiction over piracy and obliges states to cooperate in its suppression, practical enforcement remains fragmented. The ۲۰۰۵ Protocol to the SUA Convention partially fills legal gaps by criminalizing a wide range of unlawful acts at sea and establishing boarding and jurisdiction procedures. The Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) and UN Security Council resolutions provide additional tools for intercepting WMD-related shipments, though concerns regarding legitimacy and unilateralism persist. Military exercises in the EEZ of a third state remain highly controversial, with divergent state practice and doctrinal views. NWFZs contribute to confidence-building and environmental protection but require broader adherence.Conclusion: UNCLOS provides an essential framework for maritime peace and security, but it is not self-executing. Effective implementation requires stronger international cooperation, institutionalized mechanisms, respect for human rights, and clearer rules on military activities in the EEZ. The study recommends enhancing regional coordination, supporting UN Security Council action, harmonizing national laws, and promoting NWFZs as complementary instruments for maritime peace.

کلیدواژه ها:

Piracy ، Maritime Security ، UNCLOS ، WMD Proliferation and Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones ، Military Activities in the EEZ