Engaging Nascent Navies

Around the world, but especially on both coasts of Africa, small maritime units, some not even meeting the thresholds of a coast guard, conduct maritime security operations, humanitarian assistance, counter-piracy, fisheries protection patrols, and other low intensity missions. Others quietly go about developing asymmetric means to counter more powerful navies. As combatant commander naval components develop partner engagement strategies, writing off or marginalizing these nascent navies would be convenient. Conversely, navy intelligence analysts are often quick to ignore a potential adversary maritime force just because it doesn’t currently pose a threat to blue water fleet assets. It wasn't too long ago that the IRGCN was essentially a nascent navy consisting of a bunch of yahoos in small boats. The yahoos and small boats still exists, but today the force (which it must be noted resides in a separate chain of command from the Iranian Navy), has developed an array of sea denial capabilities, to include mines, anti-ship missiles, and suicide craft. Perhaps the Hamas Naval Police falls into this category today.

How can the US Navy best engage with burgeoning naval partners while countering potential adversaries? Increasingly, the best way to work in the littorals against non-state threats given limited force structure will be to develop close relationships with maritime partners and surrogates. Persistence presence, not periodic engagement is appropriate. Traditional USN engagements with smaller navies consist of not much more than a sporadic passex followed by high fives and a reception on the fantail with some lumpia hors d'oeuvres. Today's Africa Partnership Stations are a step in the right direction, but still lack the persistence required to build trust and share information, prerequisites to a beneficial relationship for both parties. NSW certainly understands the value of enduring relationships, having recently stood up Anchor Teams. There is no reason that the Navy writ large shouldn't embrace a similar concept, embedding small teams of mature, culturally attuned Sailors in nascent navies globally. Everybody wants to do a PEP tour in Australia or the Netherlands, but where's the line to sign up for an exchange tour with the Puntland Coast Guard or Sierra Leone's Navy?

The opinions and views expressed in this post are those of the author alone and are presented in his personal capacity. They do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Department of Defense or any of its agencies.