FEATURE ARTICLE

April 2007

Navy’s Revised Strategy to Emphasize ‘Global Partnerships’

By Sandra I. Erwin

In its soon-to-be-unveiled strategy for future maritime operations, the Navy will emphasize the importance of international partnerships and global naval presence.

In June, the Navy is expected to publish an updated strategy document that will reflect the post 9/11 security challenges, and articulate the role of maritime forces — including Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard — in defending U.S. interests.

“We are half-way through the development process,” said Navy Cmdr. Bryan McGrath, who has worked closely with senior officers in charge of writing the new strategy.

In a series of seminars the Navy hosted in recent months to engage outsiders — analysts, academics and regular citizens — one of the predominant themes was the importance of securing global commerce, which is key to the nation’s prosperity, McGrath said in an interview.

Global commerce not only requires a steady U.S. naval presence that is forward deployed, but also strong partnerships with allies around the world, McGrath noted.

More than a year ago, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael G. Mullen introduced the notion of a “1,000-ship Navy” as a way to illustrate the point that the U.S. Navy alone — with 280 ships— is not large enough to protect all vital shipping channels. Disruptions in those waterways, such as terrorist acts or piracy, have the potential to wreak havoc on the global economy, Mullen and other Navy leaders have said.

The 1,000-ship Navy, said McGrath, is a “great brand name for enhanced maritime security through partnerships.” The Navy also is embracing the notion that bolstering alliances with countries in areas such as Africa and Southeast Asia, that are vulnerable to the influence of terrorist groups, is one way to protect the United States from future attacks. “It’s about relationship building as a way of attacking the root causes of terrorism,” said McGrath.

Underpinning the new strategy is an “outward and internationalist view” of the role of maritime military power. “I would foresee a maritime strategy where you would not mention a 1,000 ship navy, but anyone who read the document would see the need for a 1,000 ship navy as a strategic imperative,” McGrath said. “It’s in the nation’s interest that we remain forward. We have to make that case. It’s for the benefit of our homeland security.”

Please email your comments to SErwin@ndia.org

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