Alone in the Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Dominica, I found myself swimming in the dead of night. Without lights, a motor, or radio, our dinghy became unsafe as it filled with water. We abandoned ship to avoid drifting into the open sea. Rescue arrived in the form of Dominican fishermen who pulled me from the water. This reliance on fellow mariners highlights a universal trust among sea travelers, a commitment to aid others in distress.

International conventions such as the Safety of Life at Sea, Maritime Search and Rescue, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea emphasize this duty. Yet, on September 2, 2025, the U.S. attacked unknown vessels in international waters, repeating the attack even as sailors clung to wreckage. Over eight months, the U.S. targeted over 60 small vessels, resulting in more than 200 deaths. These actions shattered the fundamental maritime principle of assisting those in peril at sea.

Six Democratic senators emphasized the importance of lawful conduct, but despite media condemnation, the strikes continued. The most recent occurred on May 30, 2026. Such events violate long-held maritime laws meant to ensure peace and economic stability. The Trump administration’s actions undermined these laws by targeting shipwrecked sailors, hindering navigation, and affecting subsea telecommunications and mineral resources on the high seas.

Freedom of navigation is crucial for maritime trade and communication. International waterways like the Strait of Hormuz have traditionally upheld this freedom through customary law, despite not being ratified by all nations involved. Recent conflicts saw the U.S. and Iran erecting blockades, complicating navigational freedom. Restoring this principle remains uncertain even as conflicts shift.

Guarding subsea cables is another significant priority, with treaties dating back to 1899. Russia has allegedly attacked undersea cables, while Iran imposes fees for their use. The mineral riches of the deep sea, considered a common heritage, are at risk due to unilateral actions by the U.S. The Trump administration bypassed three decades of negotiated international agreements by issuing mining leases in international waters, ignoring scientific warnings about deep-sea mining’s environmental impacts.

The U.S. has adhered to the Law of the Sea in principle yet failed to formalize it since signing the implementation agreement in 1994. Trust, essential in maritime interactions, has been compromised by inconsistent adherence to international laws, endangering those who venture offshore. Re-establishing U.S. legitimacy requires Senate ratification of the Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Failure to restore trust in maritime safety and security through definitive action will risk our connections to each other and the ocean’s vast expanse.

Andrew D. Thaler is a deep-sea ecologist, conservation technologist, and ocean educator specializing in high seas resource exploitation. He is a Public Voices Fellow on Technology in the Public Interest with The OpEd Project.

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