Critical Maritime Infrastructure Protection: A Catalyst for Attaining United States Central Command's Strategic Objectives for Building the Maritime Capacity of the Gulf Cooperation Council

摘要

Building Partner Capacity is a strategic objective stated in the United States' National Security Strategy, Maritime Strategy, Quadrennial Defense Review and nested in United States Central Command's theater strategy. Stability in the Middle East and the steady flow of Arabian Gulf oil to global markets is a vital national interest of the United States. With United States maritime forces stretched thin globally, it is critical that we rely on coalition partners to carry an increased burden in securing the maritime commons. As our presence in the Arabian Gulf continues to wane, our reliance on friendly regional organizations, like the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), to contribute to regional stability increases. The United States military's program to build the maritime capacity of the GCC must be improved in order to be effective. This paper recommends six changes to United States Naval Forces Central Command's (USNAVCENT) maritime capacity building effort. Implementation of these recommendations enables USNAVCENT to more effectively build the capacity of partners, which will better address the maritime security shortfall in the Arabian Gulf.