US Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard unveil maritime strategy

The US Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard released a new Tri-Service Maritime Strategy today, entitled ‘Advantage at Sea’.

The document provides strategic guidance on how the sea services will prevail in day-to-day competition, crisis, and conflict over the next decade. It also directs the services to deepen tri-service integration, aggressively pursue force modernization, and continue robust cooperation with allies and partners.

“Our integrated Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard must maintain clear-eyed resolve to compete with, deter, and, if necessary, defeat our adversaries while we accelerate development of a modernized, integrated all-domain naval force for the future,” Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael M. Gilday, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David H. Berger, and Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Karl L. Schultz wrote.

“Our actions in this decade will shape the maritime balance of power for the rest of this century.”

Advantage at Sea places a particular focus on China and Russia.

“China’s and Russia’s revisionist approaches in the maritime environment threaten U.S. interests, undermine alliances and partnerships, and degrade the free and open international order,” the document states.

“Moreover, China’s and Russia’s aggressive naval growth and modernization are eroding U.S. military advantages,” according to the document.

The strategy also emphasizes the maritime domain is integral not only to America’s security and prosperity but to those of all nations. The oceans connect global markets, provide essential resources, and link societies and businesses. Shared interests create opportunities for greater cooperation with allies and partners.

The strategy directs the services to pursue an ‘agile and aggressive’ approach to force modernization and experimentation. The future fleet will combine legacy assets with new, smaller ships, lighter amphibious ships, modernized aircraft, expanded logistics, resilient space capabilities, and optionally manned and unmanned platforms.

To succeed in a dynamic operating environment, the services will also invest in warfighter development, delivering innovative training and education to ensure that US Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen remain one of the world’s premier naval forces.