Abstract
This chapter deals with the non-kinetic side of naval operations. In particular, it deals with the use of naval forces in applying economic maritime enforcement measures. There has always been a solid connection between the use of the navy and the economy. Traditionally, the relationship between naval forces and the economy has come to be expressed in two principles where during conflict the navy aims to destroy the opponent’s economy, and during both peacetime and conflict the navy aims to protect the State’s own economic interests. At an operational level, three models of enforcing economic maritime enforcement measures can be identified that translate these principles to today’s naval operations: traditional economic warfare operations, maritime embargo operations and maritime security operations. These measures are also often considered to be at the low end of the use of force scale.
The economic purpose of the war, ultimately fundamental to all war-makers, was more obvious to the maritime powers and more openly admitted by them…[…]…Their fleets might just occasionally fight others …[but]… The real war at sea was commercial: choking the enemy’s trade channels until he surrendered and then appropriating his trade to oneself.
Best 1996, pp. 35–36.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Till 2004, pp. 96–97.
- 2.
See also Gretton 1965, pp. 182–183.
- 3.
See e.g. Corbett 1911, pp. 99–100.
- 4.
Older manifests on maritime strategy often mention the term “commerce raiding” in this context. This term, however, has a negative connotation. I therefore prefer the more factual term of contraband operations.
- 5.
Mahan 1890, p. 26.
- 6.
Doctrinally, blockades can be divided into fleet (or naval) blockades and economic blockades. The first focuses at the denial of manoeuvrability of the opponent. The second supports the economic warfare aims. Obviously, the two types of blockades may overlap in one blockade, for instance when the enemy fleet is held up in a port which is also an important economic port. See Corbett 1911, pp. 185–210.
- 7.
Operation Cast Lead.
- 8.
Operation Change of Direction. See on this operation Ducheine and Pouw 2009, pp. 51–96.
- 9.
The legal question underlying these conflicts is whether they can be characterized as either international or non-international armed conflicts. In the latter case, the laws of naval warfare do not apply.
- 10.
Different names exist for this area, such as the area of maritime operations (AMO) which is obviously close to the target State.
- 11.
During the crises in Southern Rhodesia, Iraq, the Former Yugoslavia, Haiti, Sierra Leone, Lebanon and Libya.
- 12.
See Fink 2011a, pp. 237–260.
- 13.
In NATO terms abbreviated as MSA. In the US terminology MSA is more often called maritime domain awareness (MDA).
- 14.
NATO’s operation Ocean Shield, the EU-Operation Atalanta and several individual anti-piracy initiatives.
- 15.
NATO’s SNMG2-operation in the Aegean Sea, and the EU-operations Sophia and Triton in the Southern Central Mediterranean.
- 16.
Currently 31 States are participating in CMF.
- 17.
See Kuijper and Both 2010, pp. 600–617, for a good background and purpose of the Combined Maritime Forces organisation.
- 18.
See Combined Maritime Forces (undated).
- 19.
NATO 2016.
- 20.
Richmond 1947, p. 13.
- 21.
The Guardian 2015.
- 22.
See elaborately on this issue Fink 2011b, pp. 191–215.
References
Best G (1996) War and Law since 1945. Clarendon Press, Oxford
Combined Maritime Forces (undated) http://combinedmaritimeforces.com/about/ Accessed 2 March 2017
Corbett JS (1911) Principles of maritime strategy, 2004 Dover edition. Longmans, Green and Co, London/New York
Ducheine PAL, Pouw EH (2009) Operation Change of Direction - A short survey on the legal basis and applicable legal regimes. In: De Weger M, Osinga F, Kirkels H (eds) NL ARMS. Netherlands Defence Academy, Breda pp 51–96
Fink M (2011a) UN-Mandated Maritime Arms Embargo Operations in Operation Unified Protector. Military Law and the Law of War Review 50(1–2):237–260
Fink M (2011b) Contemporary views on the law of naval blockades. Aegean Review on the Law of the Sea 1(2):191–215
Gretton P (1965) Maritime strategy - A study of British Defence problems. Cassell & Company, London
Kuijper D, Both SJJ (2010) Combined maritime forces - Het belang van deelname aan een unieke coalitie. Militaire Spectator 179(12):600–617
Mahan A (1890) The influence of sea power upon history, 1660-1783. Dover Publications Inc., New York
NATO (2016) Operation Active Endeavour. http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_7932.htm (27 October 2016). Accessed 2 March 2017
Richmond H (1947) Sea power in the modern world. G. Bell & Sons, London
The Guardian (2015) US Backed Saudi Naval Blockade Leaves 20 m Inside Yemen Facing Humanitarian Disaster (5 June 2015) http://www.mintpressnews.com/us-backed-saudi-naval-blockade-leaves-20m-inside-yemen-facing-humanitarian-disaster/206286/ Accessed 2 March 2017
Till G (2004) Sea Power - A Guide for the twenty-first century. Frank Cass, London/Portland
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 T.M.C. Asser Press and the authors
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Fink, M. (2017). Maritime Economic Enforcement Measures: ‘Winning Without Killing’ in Modern Conflicts at Sea. In: Ducheine, P., Osinga, F. (eds) Netherlands Annual Review of Military Studies 2017. NL ARMS. T.M.C. Asser Press, The Hague. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6265-189-0_17
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6265-189-0_17
Published:
Publisher Name: T.M.C. Asser Press, The Hague
Print ISBN: 978-94-6265-188-3
Online ISBN: 978-94-6265-189-0
eBook Packages: Law and CriminologyLaw and Criminology (R0)