Strengthening Maritime Security

Seventy percent of our planet is covered by water, and even in today's world of instant communication the global community is still heavily reliant on sea-based transport. The maritime domain has always been one of NATO's key strengths, but concerns about maritime security have taken on renewed importance in recent years, and NATO has been forced to re-examine some of its fundamental assumptions about the post Cold War security environment. This book shares some of the research, debates and findings from a NATO Advanced Research Workshop (ARW); Building Trust to Enhance Maritime Security, held in Geneva, Switzerland, in November 2014. The chapters in the book deal extensively with lessons learned by NATO from a wide range of policies, operations and situations. This maritime experience has been amassed from the Atlantic and Mediterranean to the Baltic and the Black Sea, and even into the Indian Ocean, as well as from the four decades spent defending NATO allies on the high seas during the Cold War. The single most profound lesson learned over the years has concerned the importance of efficient coordination. Structures and mechanisms have been created, not least in recent counter piracy operations, which enable a vast array of actors to work together in an efficient way, and which could prove invaluable in future efforts to counter terrorism and aggression worldwide. The safety of the maritime domain is essential to the freedom and security of all nations, and this book will be of interest to all those whose work involves maintaining that freedom and security.

Maritime Security: Information-Sharing Efforts Are Improving

India, part of a land-locked sub-continent, has no option but to emphasize its maritime perspective if it is to attain its destined role in the emerging regional and global order. Despite its inherited continental mindset, India has, over the decades, taken slow but steady steps in the field of maritime development. India has also learned the hard lesson that a nation which neglects its maritime defense can even lose its sovereignty. The post-Cold War environment has offered India multiple options to strengthen its maritime security through regional and international cooperation. This has assumed strategic significance in view of the new threat posed by maritime terrorism. This book evaluates India's maritime defense capability in the years to come. It analyzes the challenges that are likely to be posed, as well as the options that are available to neutralize them.

While there is enough literature dealing with different facets of the topic related to maritime security, this book is an effort to deal with multiple facets of the subject. Topics covered in the book include themes like multiple maritime zones as defined under UNCLOS-III and India's MZI Act of 1976 as also state's criminal jurisdiction in these zones under prevailing international norms and state practices. The author has attempted to assess the available capability of various maritime enforcement agencies like the Navy, the Coast Guard, the Customs (Marine) and the Marine Police as well as the possible role that CISF can play in basic point security of port and off-shore platforms. Last two chapters deal with developments since 2004 and steps that were taken to evolve a framework for coastal security as well as steps initiated after 2008 to strengthen cooperation among various agencies involved in that context. Attempt has been made in the last chapter to suggest ways and means to improve not only the overall structures of maritime security but also to strengthen sea governance during Phase II (2011-16) of Coastal Security Scheme.

In the twenty-first century, the Indo-Pacific, which spans from the western Pacific Ocean to the western Indian Ocean along the eastern coast of Africa, has emerged as a crucial geostrategic region for trade, investment, energy supplies, cooperation, and competition. It presents complex maritime security challenges and interlocking economic interests that require the development of an overarching multilateral security framework. This volume develops common approaches by focusing on geopolitical challenges, transnational security concerns, and multilateral institution-building and cooperation. The chapters, written by a cross-section of practitioners, diplomats, policymakers, and scholars from the three major powers discussed (United States, China, India) explain the opportunities and risks in the Indo-Pacific region and identify specific naval measures needed to enhance maritime security in the region. Maritime Security in the Indo-Pacific opens by introducing the Indo-Pacific and outlining the roles of China, India, and the United States in various maritime issues in the region. It then focuses on the security challenges presented by maritime disputes, naval engagement, legal issues, sea lanes of communication, energy transport, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, as well as by nontraditional threats, such as piracy, terrorism, and weapons proliferation. It compares and contrasts the roles and perspectives of the key maritime powers, analyzing the need for multilateral cooperation to overcome the traditional and nontraditional challenges and security dilemma. This shows that, in spite of their different interests, capabilities, and priorities, Washington, Beijing and New Delhi can and do engage in cooperation to deal with transnational security challenges. Lastly, the book describes how to promote maritime cooperation by establishing or strengthening multilateral mechanisms and measures that would reduce the prospects for conflict in the Indo-Pacific region.

This report outlines the Department of Defense's (DOD's) strategy with regard to maritime security in the Asia-Pacific region. Recognizing the importance of the Asia-Pacific region and its maritime domain for the security of the U.S., DOD is focused on safeguarding freedom of the seas, deterring conflict and coercion, and promoting adherence to international law and standards. The report outlines four lines of effort DOD is employing: (1) strengthening our military capacity; (2) working with our allies and partners from NE Asia to the Indian Ocean to build their capacity to address potential challenges; (3) leveraging military diplomacy to build greater transparency, reduce the risk of miscalculation or conflict, and promote shared maritime rules of the road; (4) working to strengthen regional security institutions and encourage the development of an open and effective regional security architecture. Figures. This is a print on demand report.

Master's Thesis from the year 2012 in the subject Politics - Other International Politics Topics, grade: PASS, University of Nairobi (Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies (IDIS)), course: International Relations, language: English, abstract: Maritime security is a key component of collective security and thus forms part of the foundation for economic development. The Indian Ocean region, particularly the East African region does not have its own maritime policy or strategy, despite the acknowledged importance of this component of any national or regional economy. Given the unique needs of its populace, priorities and requirements of the various states, the East African part of the Indian Ocean therefore needs to develop a maritime strategy to promote economic development for its people through improved maritime security, leading to improved global competitiveness for its goods and services. To achieve the desired peace and a stable environment, cooperation and adoption of a holistic maritime legislation is mandatory which, in turn, would strengthen the maritime institutions which are crucial for a maritime strategy. This combination of strengthened and coherent legislation, institutions and cooperation would enhance the policing of, and prosecution for, illegal acts, eg piracy, terrorism, trafficking and the dumping of waste materials; it would better regulate the fishing industry; ensure pollution will be policed; countering of smuggling and illicit trade; transnational or cross-border crime would be better monitored and reduced; and further, the safe navigation of shipping guaranteed. This will eventually translate to a peaceful, a more secure and stable Indian ocean region. Thus the required good order at sea should be viewed as a function of how states should exercise their jurisdiction on maritime issues for sustainable peace and development.