With the end of the Iran war on the horizon, a unique opportunity is at hand to establish a new Persian Gulf regional security framework that provides confidence to the maritime community, world energy consumers and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
The last time we had a moment like this was in the aftermath of the Iran-Iraq War in 1989. Since then, we’ve come a long way from Leonid Brezhnev, Mikael Gorbachev, Saddam Hussain and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The good news is that an established security and economic framework has been firmly in place since the 1990’s.
As the conclusion of the Iran War approaches, security planning for a modernized, capability based Persian Gulf regional security regime should urgently begin. Those capabilities include:
Chartage: A redefined International Maritime Security Corridor (IMSC) going from the Gulf of Oman approaches to the Strait of Hormuz through to the head waters of the Persian Gulf and the exit of the Shatt al Arab. The UK Admiralty office has the most well-established, credible experience and a useful starting point for the new IMSC-informed nautical chart using its Admiralty 2858 chart. This chart would provide a useful point of departure for the GCC countries to review and modify.
Maritime Traffic Control System for Safety: Much like an Air Traffic Control (ATC) system used in aviation, so too should there be a Sea Traffic Control (STC) for maritime transit passage into and out of the Gulf. The STC would utilize safety of navigation, chartage and weather technologies that would be used in a newly established maritime traffic regime for all mariners, shipping companies and port control authorities.
International Security Capability: Starting with the Combined Maritime Force (CMF) mission for security in the Persian Gulf region, rotational ship and staff deployments and established logistic footprint in Bahrain; a scheduling group could organize and socialize forward looking plans for Standing Naval Forces of global nation states and the GCC countries to provide escort services (as needed), emergency services, and search and rescue support for shipping in the IMSC.
Mariner Centers: The maritime community that operate their vessels in the Persian Gulf consists of sea-going mariners who deliver cargo, energy supplies and food to the Gulf nations and the world. It would be a welcome development to put the Gulf mariners at the center of a new Persian Gulf security regime by creating new Mariner Centers for berthing, food service, fitness, hygiene and routine medical and dental needs – similar to the support received at truck stops and airline crew lounges.
Sustaining IMSC Capability: Once established, the new Persian Gulf (PG) security regime and IMSC will require resources that are best provided by member nation contributions. The participating nations should include a modest PG-IMSC line item in their design-build-equip and operate budgets as we come out of the Iran War. The GCC community of states, nation-states (that are the most significant and enduring customers) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for maritime security and safety training should be approached to provide the resource contributions.
“Project Freedom” Complements the Future Reality: The future of a new Persian Gulf security framework includes the innovative American Dome capability at sea and along the Omani and UAE littorals to protect shipping along Omani territorial waters. In the coming weeks, the American Dome commitment and actual transits of the Strait of Hormuz will need to be perceived to be safe while communicating confidence to the shippers, markets, Lloyd’s Registry and the shippers. It will also need to underscore the commitment of the US to be there with the GCC countries through a new, robust political-military dialog with each country that is designed to sustain and modernize our existing defense relationships, care for their defensive needs and to open a more robust dialog with the maritime seafarers, their agents and their ships. The political transition in Iran is expected to be tumultuous, take time and will need the stabilizing presence of CENTCOM and GCC national forces to anticipate risks from the remnants of the IRGC regime as a new Iranian interim government is eventually established. In short, the US security organizations ashore and at sea in the region will persist and not fade away. We will be there with our partners from the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf to create a new stability for their trade, national plans and global supply chain needs. The near-term outcome: security, stability and no more choke point control.
In summary: a new day looms for a safer, more secure Persian Gulf.
The need is great and the GCC countries, Gulf customers and the maritime security forces of the world and the maritime community all have a compelling need for unfettered innocent passage in a safe and secure environment.
Robert S. Wells is a retired U.S. Navy Captain, Veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and former Special Advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney.
The views expressed in this piece are the sole opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Center for Maritime Strategy or other institutions listed.
Center for Maritime Strategy
By Robert S. Wells
With the end of the Iran war on the horizon, a unique opportunity is at hand to establish a new Persian Gulf regional security framework that provides confidence to the maritime community, world energy consumers and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
The last time we had a moment like this was in the aftermath of the Iran-Iraq War in 1989. Since then, we’ve come a long way from Leonid Brezhnev, Mikael Gorbachev, Saddam Hussain and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The good news is that an established security and economic framework has been firmly in place since the 1990’s.
As the conclusion of the Iran War approaches, security planning for a modernized, capability based Persian Gulf regional security regime should urgently begin. Those capabilities include:
Chartage: A redefined International Maritime Security Corridor (IMSC) going from the Gulf of Oman approaches to the Strait of Hormuz through to the head waters of the Persian Gulf and the exit of the Shatt al Arab. The UK Admiralty office has the most well-established, credible experience and a useful starting point for the new IMSC-informed nautical chart using its Admiralty 2858 chart. This chart would provide a useful point of departure for the GCC countries to review and modify.
Maritime Traffic Control System for Safety: Much like an Air Traffic Control (ATC) system used in aviation, so too should there be a Sea Traffic Control (STC) for maritime transit passage into and out of the Gulf. The STC would utilize safety of navigation, chartage and weather technologies that would be used in a newly established maritime traffic regime for all mariners, shipping companies and port control authorities.
International Security Capability: Starting with the Combined Maritime Force (CMF) mission for security in the Persian Gulf region, rotational ship and staff deployments and established logistic footprint in Bahrain; a scheduling group could organize and socialize forward looking plans for Standing Naval Forces of global nation states and the GCC countries to provide escort services (as needed), emergency services, and search and rescue support for shipping in the IMSC.
Mariner Centers: The maritime community that operate their vessels in the Persian Gulf consists of sea-going mariners who deliver cargo, energy supplies and food to the Gulf nations and the world. It would be a welcome development to put the Gulf mariners at the center of a new Persian Gulf security regime by creating new Mariner Centers for berthing, food service, fitness, hygiene and routine medical and dental needs – similar to the support received at truck stops and airline crew lounges.
Sustaining IMSC Capability: Once established, the new Persian Gulf (PG) security regime and IMSC will require resources that are best provided by member nation contributions. The participating nations should include a modest PG-IMSC line item in their design-build-equip and operate budgets as we come out of the Iran War. The GCC community of states, nation-states (that are the most significant and enduring customers) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for maritime security and safety training should be approached to provide the resource contributions.
“Project Freedom” Complements the Future Reality: The future of a new Persian Gulf security framework includes the innovative American Dome capability at sea and along the Omani and UAE littorals to protect shipping along Omani territorial waters. In the coming weeks, the American Dome commitment and actual transits of the Strait of Hormuz will need to be perceived to be safe while communicating confidence to the shippers, markets, Lloyd’s Registry and the shippers. It will also need to underscore the commitment of the US to be there with the GCC countries through a new, robust political-military dialog with each country that is designed to sustain and modernize our existing defense relationships, care for their defensive needs and to open a more robust dialog with the maritime seafarers, their agents and their ships. The political transition in Iran is expected to be tumultuous, take time and will need the stabilizing presence of CENTCOM and GCC national forces to anticipate risks from the remnants of the IRGC regime as a new Iranian interim government is eventually established. In short, the US security organizations ashore and at sea in the region will persist and not fade away. We will be there with our partners from the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf to create a new stability for their trade, national plans and global supply chain needs. The near-term outcome: security, stability and no more choke point control.
In summary: a new day looms for a safer, more secure Persian Gulf.
The need is great and the GCC countries, Gulf customers and the maritime security forces of the world and the maritime community all have a compelling need for unfettered innocent passage in a safe and secure environment.
Robert S. Wells is a retired U.S. Navy Captain, Veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and former Special Advisor to Vice President Dick Cheney.
The views expressed in this piece are the sole opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Center for Maritime Strategy or other institutions listed.