Maritime Security

Seaborne commerce and freedom of navigation are inextricably intertwined, with both contributing to the success and prosperity of the liberal world order. But maritime security is under threat both from great-power competitors and from non-state actors. Policy makers must come up with new solutions to resolve threats to maritime security and to secure a free and open maritime system in cooperation with allies and partners.

Private industry should step up to protect the global maritime order

TURKEYSource Nov 13, 2024

Quiet before the storm: Is a new maritime security order taking shape in the Black Sea region?

By Serhat Güvenç

While Turkey and Europe have their own maritime strategies for the Black Sea, finding ways of cooperation is critical to counter Russia’s maritime power.
Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia
Private industry should step up to protect the global maritime order

New Atlanticist Oct 24, 2024

Dispatch from Taiwan: China’s military drills look more frightening outside of Taiwan than from inside

By Brian Kerg

The US and its allies took note when China launched large military exercises around Taiwan just after October 10. But it’s also important to pay attention to how Taiwanese reacted to Beijing’s saber-rattling.
China East Asia
Private industry should step up to protect the global maritime order

New Atlanticist Oct 15, 2024

How the US and the Philippines should counter Beijing’s aggression in the South China Sea

By Elizabeth Freund Larus and James Rice

Washington, Manila, and their Indo-Pacific allies must work together to counter China’s maritime aggression in Philippine waters.
China Indo-Pacific

Content

Issue Brief

Sep 11, 2025

Private industry should step up to protect the global maritime order

By Elisabeth Braw

Who should protect the global maritime order? While a growing number of countries have begun to violate maritime rules, the maritime sector has the opportunity, and an obligation, to help prevent further deterioration of the rules that underpin safe commerce and safe passage on the seas.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Sep 10, 2025

Why the Pentagon had been reluctant to combat narco-trafficking in the Western Hemisphere

By Kevin Whitaker

The recent US strike on a suspected drug-carrying vessel is a reminder that the US military had for years resisted getting more deeply involved in counternarcotics.

Latin America Maritime Security

New Atlanticist

Sep 10, 2025

What to know about Trump’s war on drug trafficking from Venezuela

By Atlantic Council experts

The recent US strike on a suspected drug trafficking boat is best understood in the context of the Trump administration’s policies toward Venezuela and the wider Western Hemisphere.

Caribbean Latin America

New Atlanticist

Sep 9, 2025

Focus on dual deterrence, not headcount, for transforming US Forces Korea

By Markus Garlauskas

In Washington, a narrow focus on the number of US troops in South Korea has obscured a more important discussion on the broader capabilities needed going forward.

Korea Maritime Security

New Atlanticist

Sep 5, 2025

Rubio’s visit to Mexico and Ecuador shows the need for US security cooperation runs deeper than warships in the Caribbean

By María Fernanda Bozmoski

US counternarcotics operations in the Caribbean are only one aspect of how Washington can build security ties with Latin American partners.

Conflict Defense Policy

New Atlanticist

Sep 4, 2025

Maritime autonomous vehicles are threatening Arctic security. Here’s what to do about it.

By Svetlana Greene

International norms governing the Arctic have been unable to match the pace of technological innovation taking place with autonomous vehicles.

Maritime Security Northern Europe

UkraineAlert

Sep 3, 2025

Europe’s best security guarantee against Russia is the Ukrainian army

By Elena Davlikanova, Yevhen Malik

With Europe militarily unprepared and deeply reluctant to confront the Kremlin, a strong Ukraine currently looks to be by far the most realistic deterrent against further Russian aggression, write Elena Davlikanova and Yevhenii Malik.

Conflict Defense Policy

UkraineAlert

Aug 25, 2025

Putin’s hybrid war against Europe continues to escalate

By Maksym Beznosiuk

While international attention focuses on faltering US-led efforts to broker a peace deal and end the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin’s broader hybrid war against Europe continues to escalate, writes Maksym Beznosiuk.

Conflict Disinformation

MENASource

Jul 31, 2025

Gateways to the Red Sea: The case for Israel–Somaliland normalization

By Amit Yarom

Expanding the Abraham Accords to Somaliland could quietly anchor a more stable and cooperative Red Sea region.

East Africa Israel

MENASource

Jul 31, 2025

Djibouti is the next arena for US-China competition in the Red Sea

By Emily Milliken

Washington could upgrade its Djibouti relationship and secure its foothold along some of the world’s most important waterways.

Africa China
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Experts

Fellow

James J. Townsend Jr.

Senior Advisor

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Philip W. Yu

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Indo-Pacific

Fellow

Katarzyna Zysk

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Arms Control English

Events

Public Event Mon, April 13, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

Admiral Daryl Caudle on the strategic vision for the US Navy
Defense Policy Maritime Security National Security