The Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Vasilis Kikilias, conveyed the message that shipping constitutes a critical pillar for the economy, society, and citizens’ daily lives, through a post regarding the 10th Shipping Conference of Naftemporiki.“If some believe that shipping only concerns ‘a few wealthy individuals,’ they are mistaken,” he stated, citing a relevant excerpt from his speech at the conference, emphasizing that 80%-90% of global trade is conducted by sea and directly impacts prices, the economy, and the life of the average Greek and European family.Kikilias linked geopolitical crises to the economic pressure faced by societies, noting that governments will be judged by their ability to substantively protect citizens against international disruptions.“I believe that governments will be judged by whether they can truly protect their societies against geopolitical crises,” he stressed. Kikilias focused particularly on the issue of the energy transition and marine fuels, subtly criticizing proposals for a rapid ban on LNG. “We cannot be investing today in LNG, FSRUs, ports, and energy infrastructure while, at the same time, some are calling for an LNG ban, especially when alternative fuels cover a mere 0.5% of global shipping requirements,” he noted.