Addressing the Melanesian Ocean Summit in Port Moresby this week, Ramos-Horta framed ocean protection not only as an environmental imperative, but as a matter of sovereignty, justice and cultural survival.

“The sea has shaped Timor-Leste’s past and remains central to our vision for the future,” he told delegates gathered at Apec Haus. “Marine resources know no borders, and their protection requires an integrated and shared approach.”

The summit, hosted by Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape, brought together regional leaders and policymakers to discuss sustainable fisheries, maritime security and climate resilience across the Pacific.

Although Timor-Leste is not politically part of Melanesia, Ramos-Horta emphasised the country’s deep regional ties through the Coral Triangle — one of the world’s richest marine ecosystems spanning Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

The region contains nearly a third of the world’s coral reefs and more than 2,000 species of reef fish, alongside endangered marine turtles, whales and dugongs. Ramos-Horta said this biodiversity carries “an extraordinary responsibility” for nations that depend on the ocean for food security, livelihoods and identity.

Ramos-Horta also used the summit to reinforce Timor-Leste’s long-standing emphasis on international law and multilateralism.

Referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as a “constitution for the oceans”, Ramos-Horta said legal frameworks remain essential for small states navigating maritime disputes and climate pressures.

“For small states like Timor-Leste, international law is not an abstract concept,” he said. “It is the foundation of our sovereignty, independence and peaceful integration into the international system.”

His remarks come as Pacific nations increasingly push for stronger global action on rising sea levels, illegal fishing and the migration of fish stocks caused by warming oceans.