A Mature Maritime Strategy for Africa to Meet National Security Goals
Abstract
U.S. maritime security and counter-piracy operations in the Somali Basin are informed by an immature strategy that fails to balance strategic ends, ways and means, lacks effective objectives and is deficient of an end-state that supports future withdrawal of U.S. maritime assets. Vast U.S. resources have been and are still employed at the operational level, chasing a Somali Basin problem (piracy) that affects peripheral U.S. national interests at best. In contrast, West African maritime instability and security threats pose a serious risk to vital economic geographic interests for the U.S., and if left unattended, could lead to costly unplanned military, economic, humanitarian and/or environmental responses in the future. The West African environment, to include the will of the people, progress in local governance, resource wealth, expanding commerce with the West and the presence of U.S. commercial industry supports the implementation of a mature maritime security strategy that would add significant stability to the African continent, and would curtail the growing maritime instability and criminal activity that threatens U.S. interests.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 17, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA545430
Entities
People
- Ray A. Stapf
Organizations
- National Defense University