49th Conference on Oceans Law & Policy (COLP49), Athens, Greece: “Maritime Security in the Mediterranean Sea & Beyond”

On September 21 and 22, 2026, the 49th Conference on Oceans Law & Policy (COLP49) was held at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (University of Athens) in Athens, Greece. The Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA), as a supporting organization, sponsored and coordinated the participation of several speakers in the event.

This conference is an annual international gathering in the field of maritime law, held in cooperation with the Stockton Center for International Law at the US Naval War College (USNWC), the World Maritime University —Sasakawa Global Ocean Institute (WMU-GOI), University of Athens, and others.

Under the overarching theme of Maritime Security in the Mediterranean Sea & Beyond,” this year’s event featured 14 panels over two days, bringing together researchers, practitioners, and government officials from around the world.

A distinctive feature of this year’s conference was that, reflecting its central theme, sessions were structured to intersect security issues—such as sanctions, the South China Sea, shadow fleets, the protection of submarine cables, the laws of naval warfare, and the Strait of Hormuz—with various fields of maritime law.

JIIA facilitated presentations by Mr. Hideshi Tokuchi, President of the Research Institute for Peace and Security (RIPS); Professor Mariko Kawano, Waseda University; Professor Norihito Samata, Musashino University: Associate Professor Maiko Raita, The University of Osaka; and Tomoyuki Yoshida, Chief Executive Director of JIIA.

Event Website : https://www.colp49athens2026.gr/
Video Report : https://www.colp49athens2026.gr/guidelines-submission-form/
Presenter's PPT: Hideshi Tokuchi  Mariko Kawano  Norihito Samata  Maiko Raita