Published: September 21, 2026
MONROVIA – Liberia put its maritime security and blue economy agenda before senior U.S. foreign policy, national security and maritime officials Sunday, co-chairing a high-level, closed-door roundtable with the United States in New York on maritime security, economic cooperation and the growing importance of secure sea lanes to global trade and supply chains.
Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti co-chaired the roundtable with Michael G. Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and a former national security adviser to President Donald Trump. The meeting was held on the margins of the 81st session of the U.N. General Assembly, where Liberia is holding a series of high-level diplomatic meetings.
The roundtable brought together senior officials from both governments for strategic discussions on three areas: maritime security, fisheries and the blue economy, and economic development opportunities of mutual interest.
National Security Adviser Samuel Kofi Woods and Cllr. Neto Zarzar Lighe Sr., commissioner and chief executive officer of the Liberia Maritime Authority, led Liberia’s technical presentations.
Private sector representatives and delegates from maritime nations, including Argentina and Panama, also took part, signaling broad international interest in the economic diplomacy framework guiding the engagement.
For Liberia, which runs one of the world’s largest ship registries, the roundtable highlighted the country’s expanding role in global maritime affairs. The government said it is committed to using Liberia’s strategic maritime position to advance its national economic interests, deepen security cooperation and attract investment.
The meeting also reinforced the long-standing partnership between Liberia and the United States, with both sides affirming practical cooperation on shared economic and security priorities.
The delegations
Nyanti led the Liberian delegation, which included Woods, Lighe and Lewis G. Brown II, Liberia’s ambassador to the United Nations.
Waltz led the U.S. delegation, which included Frank Garcia, assistant secretary of state for African affairs; Wesley R. Brooks, assistant secretary of state for oceans and international environmental and scientific affairs; and former Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, among other senior officials.
Together, the two delegations spanned African affairs, oceans and environmental policy, national security and maritime administration, reflecting the range of issues on the table and the weight both governments place on deeper cooperation at sea.
A bigger voice at the U.N.
The roundtable comes as Liberia’s profile at the United Nations is rising. The country is serving a two-year term on the U.N. Security Council for 2026 and 2027 and will assume the council’s presidency in December, giving it a larger voice in international discussions on peace, security and multilateral cooperation.
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