Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore have reaffirmed their commitment to keeping the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) free, open and safe for international shipping, according to an official statement.

At the 17th Co-operation Forum in Singapore on Tuesday, the three littoral states reaffirmed that the SOMS is a strait used for international navigation, where the right of transit passage applies under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and customary international law.

According to Anadolu Agency, the countries also stressed the importance of cooperation with user states, international organizations and the maritime industry to ensure navigational safety and protect the marine environment.

Singapore Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said keeping the waterways safe, secure and open was in everyone's interest. He described the Malacca and Singapore straits as a “shining” example of what clse regional cooperation can achieve.

He noted that the straits carry nearly a quarter of global seaborne trade, underscoring their importance to regional and international commerce.

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