The Philippines has joined 59 other countries in signing a European Union-led pledge opposing the imposition of maritime tolls in international waterways, according to Philstar.com. The declaration, signed by all 27 EU member states and 33 additional nations, reaffirms support for freedom of navigation and rejects any measure that could compromise lawful international shipping.
The pledge was announced by EU High Representative and Vice President Kaja Kallas on October 12 in Luxembourg, Philstar.com reported. It followed earlier reports that Iranian authorities had imposed a maritime toll fee system in the Strait of Hormuz, causing disruptions to the waterway's operations.
Why it matters
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints, through which a substantial share of global oil shipments passes. Any toll regime there could raise shipping costs, delay cargo, and set a precedent for other strategic waterways. The signatories warned that such "discriminatory measures" would create a "dangerous precedent" for international waterways, according to Philstar.com.
The pledge also carries weight for the Philippines, a maritime nation that depends heavily on seaborne trade and has long pressed for rules-based conduct in disputed waters. By signing, Manila aligns itself with a broad coalition that includes major shipping and trading economies.
What the pledge says
According to Philstar.com, the declaration stresses that no government is permitted to impose maritime tolls under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The signatories stated that no state should place discriminatory limits on ship passage through international waterways in a manner inconsistent with international law as reflected in UNCLOS, describing the principle as vital for global security.
The pledge commits signatories to supporting "defensive and non-escalatory" multilateral actions to preserve freedom of navigation. It also rejects "coercive or unilateral actions" that would undermine the international law of the sea, and opposes any measures that would disrupt lawful navigation on international shipping routes.
Kallas framed the declaration as a diplomatic message. Speaking at a press briefing in Luxembourg on October 12, she said the pledge was a "clear diplomatic signal" to those attempting to "hijack" international shipping routes, according to Philstar.com. She added that international waters, described as the arteries of the economy, must remain open to everyone rather than to whoever can pay.
Regional dimensions
Coverage of the pledge extended beyond the Philippines. Inquirer.net reported that the Philippines joined 59 nations in the commitment to uphold freedom of navigation. Shipping Telegraph described the declaration as a rejection of strait tolls backed by 60 countries. Reuters similarly reported that sixty countries supported the declaration opposing strait tolls.
Lloyd's List reported that Oman backed the EU freedom of navigation pledge while negotiations over tolls in the Strait of Hormuz continued. That detail suggests the diplomatic effort is unfolding alongside ongoing talks rather than after a settled outcome.
For Manila, the decision to sign reflects its consistent position that international law, particularly UNCLOS, should govern passage through shared waters. The Philippines has repeatedly invoked the convention in its own maritime disputes, making the EU-led declaration a natural fit with its existing policy stance.
The toll dispute behind the pledge
The declaration emerged in response to reports that Iran had established a toll fee system in the Strait of Hormuz, per Philstar.com. The reported system disrupted operations in the waterway, prompting the EU to organize a collective response.
Tolls on transit through international straits are not addressed as a routine commercial arrangement under UNCLOS. The convention provides for transit passage through straits used for international navigation, and the signatories argue that unilateral fees conflict with that framework. The pledge does not name enforcement mechanisms, but it signals that the participating states view tolling as a legal and strategic problem rather than a bilateral matter between a coastal state and ship operators.
The breadth of the coalition — spanning Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East — indicates that the concern is not limited to any single region. Countries with differing security alignments signed on, suggesting that the commercial stakes of disrupted shipping routes outweighed other diplomatic considerations.
What to watch
Attention now turns to whether the toll system in the Strait of Hormuz is suspended, modified, or maintained, and whether the 60-nation declaration translates into coordinated multilateral action. The pledge's language about "defensive and non-escalatory" measures leaves the specific tools undefined, so the next phase will likely involve diplomatic engagement rather than immediate operational steps. For shipping companies and insurers, the practical question is whether transit through the strait returns to prior norms or whether tolls become a recurring cost of passage.
