Budget Highlights Book - DON FM&C Website - U.S. Navy

February 2010Rebalancing to Meet PrioritiesMARITIME SECURITYThe creation and maintenance of maritime security is essential to mitigating threatsshort of war, including piracy, terrorism, weapons proliferation, drug trafficking,and other illicit activities. Countering these threats far from our nation’s shoresprotects the American homeland, enhances global stability and secures freedom ofnavigation for all nations. While our FY 2011 budget supports meeting thischallenge, the future of maritime security depends more than ever on internationalcooperation and understanding. Piracy is an international problem and requires aninternational solution. The U. S. Navy willcontinue to function as part of a largerinternational endeavor combining efforts ofgovernments, militaries and maritime industryto stop piracy on the high seas. The Navyremains engaged in counter‐piracy operations,utilizing surface ships as well as long range P‐3Maritime Surveillance aircraft, as part oflongstanding efforts to combat crime on thehigh seas. Disruptions to the global system oftrade, finance, law, information, and immigration can produce cascading andharmful effects far from their sources. The increase in piracy off the Somali coast is agood example. The Navy is leading a multinational effort to patrol the waters nearthe Horn of Africa. A combined task force has been established to deter, disrupt andsuppress piracy in support of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1851,protect the global maritime environment, enhance maritime security and securefreedom of navigation for all nations.There is no one nation that can provide a solution to maritime security problemsalone. A global maritime partnership is required that unites maritime forces, portoperators, commercial shippers, and international, governmental and nongovernmentalagencies to address our mutual concerns. This partnership increasesall of our maritime capabilities, such as response time, agility and adaptability, andis purely voluntary, with no legal or encumbering ties. It is a free‐form, selforganizingnetwork of maritime partners – good neighbors interested in using thepower of the sea to unite, rather than to divide.FY 2011 Department of the Navy Budget 1‐5