IISS Global Strategic Review
“Managing Global Security and Risk”
Geneva, Switzerland: September 7~9, 2007
3rd Plenary Session: From Keeping the Peace to Peacekeeping
Vice Admiral Kevin Cosgriff
Managing Regional Flashpoints
Thank you to Mr. Ignatius…and to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) for the opportunity to be part of this important and persistently timely conference.
I have been asked to talk about Managing Regional Flashpoints. It would be too glib by half to opine “where to begin?” As a point of departure, I would like to discuss how the naval forces I command in the littoral environment use the freedom of the sea to promote regional stability.
I am fortunate to command three distinct but related organizations:
U.S. Naval Forces Central… Admiral Fallon’s Naval Component Commander overseeing all US Navy forces in the region – some 25K plus Sailors… about one half ashore.
U.S. FIFTH Fleet… the operational arm of U.S. NAVCENT comprised of aircraft carriers, combatant and amphibious ships, submarines, and a variety of other vessels such as patrol craft and mine warfare ships. And, of course, the full range of naval aircraft.
Lastly I command Combined Maritime Forces… a twenty-some nation coalition focused on Maritime Security Operations in the ~2.5 million square miles that includes the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean. This expanse, comprised of 19 coastal countries, includes three critical chokepoints at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Bab al Mandeb. Over one third of the world’s oil travels through the Strait of Hormuz, and a large and important volume of sea-trade transits the Suez Canal and Bab al Mandeb each year. To give you some idea of the scale of commerce, as much as half the world’s container cargo passes through the Indian Ocean.
In these three hats, I have aligned my efforts to execute the following five missions…
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Providing persistent full-spectrum effects as directed by my CENTCOM Commander… including Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.
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Supporting and defending U.S. and Coalition interests in the maritime environment
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Defeating terrorist actions in maritime and coastal areas
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Diminishing the influence of military posturing by disruptive countries
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And enhancing the proficiency of U.S. Navy, joint, and coalition forces
Our maritime forces are involved in virtually every country in the region and in every body of water. And to my thinking, the combination of persistent, credible naval power and work-a-day maritime security operations are precisely the sorts of things we ought to be doing. First, we want to prevent flashpoints from “flashing” as best we are able; and second, should they “flash,” provide options for controlled escalation and perhaps more importantly, de-escalation, to complement the vigorous diplomatic activity that likely would be occurring during a crisis.
The maritime reflections of our world as it is are apparent throughout our region as evinced through acts of piracy, smuggling, illegal fishing, threats to close access to vital sea lanes, and disregard for maritime safety through weapons testing in areas of heavy commercial traffic.
The twenty navies that are a part of the maritime coalition are a great example of how like-minded nations can work together to ensure the safety and security of the ocean commons and the entities that use it.
For instance, our forces help provide essential Maritime Infrastructure protection in the littorals for such facilities as desalination plants, oil and gas exploration and refining sites, and near shore power generation plants. The threat is largely from violent extremists and we spend an increasing amount of time in this part of our portfolio.
Elsewhere, coalition ships conduct operations to monitor shipping and trafficking (including of people), and fishing activity with the goal of building a body of knowledge to improve our ability to differentiate lawful from illicit activity. In this regard, information we collect is shared among our coalition partners and like-minded nations.
As one of my task forces commanders said, we are trying to underwrite a Lawful Maritime Order. And as we do it, we try to apply the principles of…
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Respect for rule of law; but also cultural practices and religious beliefs;
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Persistence and commitment in order to demonstrate we can and will help our friends and protect our shared interests; and
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Strength, as demonstrated by credible forces capable of a range of missions; not the least of which is providing rapid response to humanitarian needs.
I like to believe that maritime security in the Middle East, in particular, is a sine qua non of global economic stability and certainly it is essential for regional prosperity. And that even as we struggle daily against violent extremism, our maritime security operations offer tangible benefit to all the entities who use the seas, and need to be able to use the seas, without risk of harassment or worse.
The U.S. Navy has been in the Gulf area continuously for 60 years and I fully expect that we will be there for decades to come. Over that time we have faced many challenges, and now with our regional friends and other allies, we face today’s. By having a constant navy presence from the US and the other nations that are part of the Combined Maritime Forces, we stand for regional security and we stand against those who would threaten, coerce, or attack the people of this region. I believe the deterrent value of this force is a prudent and appreciated insurance policy in a vital area of the world.
I would like to thank the IISS again and congratulate them for this and other programs, such as the Manama Dialogue in December in my hometown, for bringing minds and ideas together in a productive effort.
Thank You.
