International Coordination and Outreach Strategy to Enhance Maritime Security

On September 19, 2005, President George W. Bush approved the National Strategy for Maritime Security. The primary objective of the National Strategy is to "prevent the maritime domain from being used by terrorists, criminals, and hostile States to commit acts of terrorism and criminal or other unlawful or hostile acts against the United States, its people, economy, property, territory, allies, and friends." Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Federal agencies have aggressively addressed the challenge of maritime security. The National Strategy reflects the President’s vision of a fully coordinated effort to safeguard U.S. global maritime interests.

The world’s oceans and waterways are vital to the security and prosperity of the United States and the global economy. The international transportation system depends on these maritime highways to transport goods and materials around the world. Ships, submarines, and naval aviation remain key to our national defense.

Security of the maritime domain is a global issue. The United States cannot safeguard the maritime domain on its own. We must forge cooperative partnerships and alliances with other nations and with private stakeholders around the world. The President has designated the Secretary of State to lead coordination of U.S. maritime security activities with foreign governments and international organizations. The President further directed the Secretary to solicit international support for a strengthened global maritime security framework.

In response, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice this month signed an International Outreach and Coordination Strategy to Enhance Maritime Security, which establishes two strategic goals:

• A coordinated policy for United States maritime security activities with foreign governments, international and regional organizations, and the private sector.
• Enhanced outreach to foreign governments, international and regional organizations, and private sector partners to solicit support for an improved global maritime security framework.

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