Global Fleet Stations: Caribbean Cruise Continues

For those who are following the SOUTHCOM missions of the USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) and the Swift (HSV 2), there have been a few events. On June 20th the USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) arrived in Belize, and on June 21st the Swift departed Belize. In my discussions with peers I am finding there is considerable interest in the Swift (HSV 2) mission to Belize, but there wasn't much public information. I see the lack of information, either on NavyNewstand or in the Belize media on the Swift (HSV 2) activities as a good sign.

Belize has significant problems, from a lack of law enforcement to being a major port for drug trafficking in South America to being a major human trafficking in both servitude and sexual exploitation, and is still listed as a Tier 3 nation for human trafficking by the State Dept.

The lack of media attention implies the Navy was busy working with Law Enforcement. The typical Global Fleet Station media announcements have tended to be humanitarian in nature, and in some cases there has been too much of it, although some media reports have involved professionally established law enforcement like the reports from Guatemala. In Belize, very little of that kind of professionalism exists, so training would likely happen in secrecy to protect the law enforcement agencies involved. This is a critical element to the Global Fleet Stations concept, because security cooperation is not only the key, but results in cooperation is the goal. It will probably be several months before any information regarding the professional training activities conducted in Belize is revealed, if not years.

The Swift (HSV 2) then moved over to the Dominican Republic, arriving on June 24th. The Dominican Today provides a good media report regarding the intentions of the GFS visit:

Webb said the high speed ship’s presence -anchored in the capital’s Ozama river port- is part of the mission to reinforce marine security in the zone. "Drug trafficking, terrorism and piracy: the nationality doesn’t concern them. One country alone cannot solve a problem such as this, but together as partners we can in fact make the difference."

A team of instructors will train to 95 military until July 6, at the Dominican Government’s request.

This is exactly how the Global Fleet Stations should work. A nation requests assistance, and the US Navy responds with as much assistance as possible, including in this case, making a material investment donation to the Dominican Navy the Global Fleet Station intends to train:

The U.S. government has given two fast launches to the Navy, valued at US$7.5 million.

Both crafts will be used to control illegal trips, terrorism and drug smuggling in high seas.

Roland Bullen, Trade Attaché at the United States Embassy, said that the boats could reach a speed of 60mph, “making them the fastest boats in the area”.

This type of investment, in time, material, and training is a very clever (and relatively cheap) way for the US Navy to make a significant impact on long term security. It establishes a foundation to build cooperation from and leaves no question regarding the US Navy commitment. The evaluation of the results of this type of investment needs to be carefully evaluated though, because while observers can feel confident in the US Navy Global Fleet Station contribution from June 24th to July 6th, it is what happens with these two fast boats starting on July 7th that will determine success.

Which raises a point that needs to be evaluated within the Global Fleet Station concept. In both Iraq and Afghanistan the Army and Marines have learned the hard lessons regarding producing results in security cooperation from another nation. The most effective way to insure success is through continuous presence. Is that equally true in this case? Will the Dominican Navy be able to make significant progress in intercepting the drug running on small boats to and from Hispaniola when the Global Fleet Station leaves?

This is one the reasons why I believe the Global Fleet Station needs to be more than one ship, specifically needs something capable of deploying "fast launches" similar to whatever is being donated to a host nation, but more importantly, needs to be able to directly address the real issue of establishing a Maritime Domain Awareness strategy that puts the donated equipment, and existing equipment of the Dominican Navy to good use.

In a letter to the editor in yesterday's edition of the Dominican Today, a retired USAF Captain makes a point that what is needed is an information system to help distinguish the legitimate business from the black market, and although I wouldn't go quite as far as he suggests, I think the point of his idea shouldn't be dismissed outright.

In this case, the Dominican Republic has asked for specific assistance. The US Navy has responded appropriately (in my opinion anyway) by going above the call of training assistance and donating 2 fast boats. However, these 2 boats specifically address only a single aspect of the law enforcement problems facing the Dominican Navy that would be needed to effectively impact the maritime security issues. The ability for a global fleet station platform to establish an extended presence, perhaps as much as 6 weeks, and help local authorities establish a strategy for coordinating local legal maritime traffic making approaches to the Dominican Republic would allow the host nation to develop the processes and techniques to get a better grasp of the maritime smuggling issues.

Maybe it isn't possible in this trip, but I certainly hope the Navy has an information sharing strategy for the region in the cards for the Global Fleet Station concept. None of the multiple suggested Navy concepts to date appears better suited to making a significant impact in Maritime Domain Awareness, which in the end is the key to improving Maritime Security in troubled regions.

As for the USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), she left Belize last week for Guatemala on the 27th, and left Guatemala on July 2nd and should be in Panama either by July 4th or 5th. You can follow the Comfort mission via Navy Newstand here.