Statement by H.E. Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes,
Permanent Representative of Latvia to the United Nations
at the UN Security Council briefing
New York, 11 September 2026
Mr. President,
We commend France for convening the Council today, exactly like the French Presidency did in September 25 years ago. I thank the briefers for their contributions.
Twenty-five years have passed since the tragic morning of 11 September, 2001. And yet, for so many, September 11 does not feel like history. It remains a date marked by absence. By families who still carry an empty place at the table. By first responders who never came home. And by a world that, on that day, came to understand with painful clarity how terrorism can profoundly threaten human life, trust, international peace and security.
Today, we stand with the people of the United States and remember nearly three thousand people who lost their lives in New York, Washington, D.C, Arlington, Virginia, and Pennsylvania; not as statistics, but as mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, colleagues, friends, and citizens of a world that believed it was safe. We also remember all those affected by terrorism in the years since — in cities and communities across the world. Their suffering reminds that terrorism knows no borders and respects no nationality.
For Latvia, like many other nations, the events of 9/11, became a moment of assuming collective responsibility for terrorism threat to international peace and security. In the aftermath of the attacks, Latvia joined the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan as part of this Council's mandated effort. Our contribution came at a cost. Latvian soldiers served far from home, alongside our allies, and some of them never returned. Today, Latvia remembers them. Today, we remember that behind every international commitment are human beings who are willing to stand in harm’s way in the hope that others may live in greater security.
The United Nations, too, was changed by September 11. Within weeks, also under the French Presidency, this Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1373, establishing a comprehensive international framework for combating terrorism and creating the Counter-Terrorism Committee, as well as later the 1267 Sanctions Committee. Since then, the United Nations counter terrorism mechanisms have continued to strengthen international cooperation and support national capacity building to prevent terrorism financing, curb the movement of foreign terrorist fighters, improve border security, and counter radicalization.
Unfortunately, 25 years on, the fight against terrorism is far from over. The threat landscape has changed and evolved. A wealth of new technology, accessible and affordable worldwide, has changed - and in many ways eased - the way terrorists operate. Terrorist groups in remote areas of the world can use commercial satellites and digital financial tools, use encrypted messages to coordinate attacks; order parts of UAVs online or use AI to reach communities in any language to spread propaganda and recruit new members.
While we are discussing ‘emerging use of new technologies’, in fact, artificial intelligence, commercial satellites, virtual currencies, crypto assets, and UAVs, are enthusiastically and widely embraced by individual terrorists and terrorist groups. Latvia calls for a clear-eyed approach that recognizes these challenges, while exploring ways to harness technology – in compliance with international law – to counter terrorism.
Twenty-five years after 9/11, the greatest tribute we can offer to victims and survivors of terrorist attacks worldwide are to remember the unity in which we came together after the Twin Towers came down. In our conviction, to never let this happen again, we came together to design a robust international normative framework and tools required to take on new challenges as they emerge on the CT landscape.
This Council needs to recognize that the new age of technology is already upon us and we need to take action to strengthen the collective response to modern terrorism. In this regard, Latvia commends France for focusing this meeting not only on commemoration of past events, but looking ahead to the future and setting the pace for resolute Council action against the evolving threat of terrorism worldwide.
Thank you!