Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, Vice President of the DAV, Elected Judge of ITLOS for the 2026 – 2035 Term

On 18 June 2026, during the 36th Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), held at United Nations Headquarters in New York, United States, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, Vice President of the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam and Viet Nam’s candidate, was elected Judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) for the 2026 – 2035 term, receiving the highest number of votes among candidates from the Asia-Pacific Group.

This marks the first time that Viet Nam has successfully secured representation on ITLOS since the Tribunal commenced its work in 1996. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh’s election with strong support in the first round of voting reflects the confidence and trust of the international community in Viet Nam’s growing stature and role on the global stage. The result stands as a testament to the country’s advancing multilateral diplomacy and international legal integration.

The election also demonstrates Viet Nam’s transition from active participation to increasingly substantive contributions to the development, implementation, and promotion of international norms and rules. It further affirms the country’s responsibility and capacity to contribute effectively to a rules-based global governance system. At the same time, the outcome reflects the positive recognition by UNCLOS States Parties of Viet Nam’s increasingly meaningful contributions to the United Nations system and to the development of international law.

For Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, success in this highly competitive election reflects the international community’s recognition of her integrity, professional expertise, and reputation as a distinguished Vietnamese expert in international law. In carrying out her duties, she will serve in accordance with the principles of independence and impartiality as stipulated in the Statute of the Tribunal, thereby contributing to the effective implementation of UNCLOS and strengthening the international legal order governing the oceans.

As a country that consistently upholds international law and supports the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and UNCLOS 1982, Viet Nam will continue to work closely with other States Parties to promote the full and effective implementation of the Convention, encourage the peaceful settlement of disputes, strengthen maritime cooperation, and contribute to the maintenance of peace, stability, security, safety, and sustainable development in the seas and oceans.

About the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS)

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) was established pursuant to the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and became operational in 1996. Headquartered in Hamburg, the Tribunal is mandated to settle disputes concerning the interpretation and application of the Convention through judicial means.

Over the past three decades, ITLOS has made significant contributions to strengthening the international legal order governing the oceans, promoting the rule of law, and advancing international cooperation for peace, stability, and sustainable development.

The Tribunal consists of 21 independent judges elected by UNCLOS States Parties, representing the principal legal systems and geographical regions of the world. At the 36th Meeting of States Parties to UNCLOS, seven judges were elected for the 2026 – 2035 term. The newly elected judges from Viet Nam, Ghana, Tunisia, Russia, the Netherlands, India, and Brazil will assume office in October 2026.

UNCLOS entered into force in 1994 and currently has 172 parties, comprising 171 States and the European Union. Viet Nam ratified the Convention in 1994./.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam