The maritime domain encompasses trade routes, communication links, and natural resources vital to the global economy and the well-being of people in the United States and around the world. In today's globalized world, events beyond our borders have an undeniable impact on United States' interests. Attacks on ships, ports, or maritime transportation infrastructure by terrorists, rogue nations, or transnational criminal organizations can, within a frighteningly short time, produce terrible destruction and significantly disrupt the flow of international trade upon which we all depend. No one nation can single-handedly secure every ocean and every waterway around the world. Because the oceans play an indispensable role in the safety, security, and economic stability of the international community, all nations have a vital interest in ensuring that the Maritime domain remains secure and open for the free and legitimate use of all. Public and private entities must work in concert to succeed. Accordingly, in order to enhance global maritime security, the Department of State will leverage its diplomatic resources and influence, while coordinating closely with other components of the United States government, to promote and enhance close cooperation among sovereign nations, international and regional organizations, and the maritime private sector, including manufacturers, shippers, ship owners, seafarers, dockside workers, truckers, retailers, and recreational boaters.

　

 Covering 70% of the Earth's surface, the world's oceans and waterways offer all nation-states a network of enormous importance to their security and prosperity. These sea-roads have been a primary driver in the globalization of commercial interests, allowing all nations to participate in the ever-expanding global marketplace. This maritime transportation system is vast, serving more than 100,000 ocean-going ships, as well as tens of millions of workboats, fishing vessels and recreational vessels. Every nation, including the United States, depends on an efficient and open maritime transportation system of waterways, ports, and intermodal connections to carry people and cargo to, from and along its shores. More than 40% of the world's merchant fleet enters United States harbors in any one year. Approximately 30,000 containers enter United States ports every day, and nearly 95% of all international commerce enters the United States through the nation's 361 public and private ports. Over 80% of the world's trade travels by water. The Maritime domain plays a critical role in the U.S. and global economies.

　

 The United States now faces myriad non-traditional, asymmetric, and unpredictable threats from state and non-State actors, as well as from terrorist and transnational criminal organizations. Globalization has vastly increased the range and potential effects of such threats. Appendix A summarizes the major threats to the Maritime Domain. With more than 98,000 miles of shoreline and 3.5 million square miles of water within our exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the United States is particularly susceptible to attack from the maritime domain. The maritime domain presents a broad array of potential targets - such as piers, power or chemical plants, refineries, passenger terminals, military bases, bridges, locks, dams, and nearby facilities - that fit terrorists' objectives of inflicting mass casualties, major economic disruption, and significant psychological distress.

　

 While the oceans' role as highways and facilitators of commerce grows, waterways have increasingly become both targets and conveyances for hostile, dangerous, and illicit activities. The openness that makes the maritime domain so important to international commerce also represents a great vulnerability. The vastness of the oceans, as well as the great length of shorelines, provides both concealment and numerous access points to land. Capitalizing on the relative ease and anonymity of movement by ship through the maritime domain, terrorists, criminal organizations, and rogue nations may smuggle or attempt to smuggle weapons of mass destruction, conventional arms, narcotics, and human beings. Where possible, they may use legitimate maritime business as fronts for these activities. Because two-thirds of the world's people live within 240 miles of a seacoast¹, large numbers of people are potentially subject to threats from these groups that exploit the maritime domain.

　

 An attack on a strategic point in the maritime domain, such as the Panama Canal, the locks of the St. Lawrence Seaway, or the Suez Canal, could devastate people and economies worldwide. The disruption of cross-border cargo deliveries to the United States following the attacks of September 11, 2001, and the closure of West Coast ports during a major labor dispute in 2002, underscore the vital role that international trade and transport play in the United States and world economy. It has been estimated that the West Coast port shutdown cost the United States economy billions of dollars. The Brookings Institute has estimated that a weapon of mass destruction or effect² hidden in a container or in the mail could cause damage and disruption costing the United States economy as much as one trillion dollars.³

　

 The United States is not alone in recognizing the vital importance of securing the maritime domain. Other nations have also begun to focus on the importance of maritime security. An effective global maritime security framework that harmonizes free trade and maritime security will uphold sovereignty, strengthen economies, enhance international partnerships, and secure the maritime domain from terrorism and other unlawful or hostile acts.

　

 To safeguard the maritime domain, the United States must forge cooperative partnerships and alliances with other nations, as well as with public and private stakeholders in the international community. We cannot and should not attempt to patrol every coastline, inspect every ship, screen every passenger, or peer into every container crossing the world's oceans. To foster stronger partnerships within the international community, the United States must have a coordinated and consistent approach to building international support and cooperation to reinforce global maritime security. We will propose ideas, and encourage others to do the same. We will speak frankly. We will also listen carefully. We will work together. Security must be a team effort.

　

 Consistent with National Security Presidential Directive NSPD-41 and Homeland Security Presidential Directive HSPD-13, this Strategy establishes the following Strategic Goals:

　

 The United States recognizes the inherent right of every nation, including our own, to defend itself, to protect its legitimate national interests, and to prevent unlawful exploitation of the maritime domain. The United States will foster cooperation within the international community through diplomacy and mutual assistance. The United States will also, when necessary, take all appropriate actions, consistent with U.S. and international law, to defend ourselves, our allies, and our national interests around the world.

　

 The National Strategy for Maritime Security, along with its associated eight national plans⁴, represents a multi-layered approach and includes increased maritime domain awareness⁵ as well as enhanced prevention, protection, and recovery capabilities. We will continue to strengthen our ability to detect and deter illicit activities in the maritime domain, to defend ourselves and our allies, and to recover from or to assist others in recovering from any terrorist or hostile act against U.S. interests or the interests of our allies or key trading partners. We will do so by enlisting the cooperation and support of our allies and partners, both public and private, throughout the world.

　

 The United States' approach to ensuring the security and safety of the maritime domain, including maritime-related activities, infrastructure, people, cargo, and vessels - like the maritime sector itself- is broad, taking advantage of all aspects of United States influence, including diplomatic, military, law enforcement, and regulatory efforts. We will promote global maritime security based on the rule of law, enforced by sovereign states, and supported by international and regional organizations, as well as the private sector. The goal is to protect international trade, economic cooperation, and legitimate maritime activities of all kinds. To achieve this goal, we will cooperate and collaborate with other governments, international and regional organizations, international business, and all those who work on, depend on, or use the maritime domain.

　

 The Department of State, in close coordination with other Departments and Agencies in the United States Government with responsibilities and authorities for security of the maritime domain, will lead active international outreach and engagement to enhance global maritime security. These efforts will be aligned with domestic outreach efforts and activities to ensure the development of consistent messages and materials. Comprehensive security of the maritime domain must be approached in partnership not only with foreign governments and international organizations, but also with the international business community that relies upon security and efficiency in the movement of vessels, people, and goods. The United States will continue to explore new avenues and opportunities for outreach and cooperation both domestically and internationally, as well as support and expand upon the work that has already begun in this critical area of our national security efforts.

　

 The United States will seek early dialogue with international partners when developing maritime security policy initiatives, and will maintain regular contact to discuss implementation and ensure effectiveness. The goal is mutually supportive policies, focused on keeping maritime systems secure and recognizing that a variety of approaches, based on different physical circumstances as well as different political, legal, and economic institutions, may foster security of the maritime domain. We will work continuously in the United States and abroad to identify best practices and to communicate them to others, reflecting the priorities of the United States and our partners.

　

 Foreign governments and industry officials will be provided clear and consistent United States government positions on programs and initiatives related to maritime security, as coordinated through the Maritime Security Policy Coordinating Committee. Appendix B lists ongoing United States Government maritime security initiatives. This annex will be updated regularly, to reflect the latest United States maritime security policies and initiatives. Appendix C lists international, regional and industry organizations that support efforts to enhance maritime security in the international community and with which the United States will continue to work closely in advancing global maritime security.

　

 In order to achieve the Strategic Goals of this International Outreach and Coordination Strategy, the Department of State (though the Office of Transportation Policy in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs and the Office of Oceans Affairs in the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs), in close coordination with all U.S. government components with equities in securing the maritime domain, will pursue the following Strategic Objectives:

　

Strateiric Goal: A coordinated policy for United States government maritime security activities with foreign governments, international and regional organizations, and the private sector.

　

Strategic Goal: Enhanced outreach to foreign governments, international and regional organizations, private sector partners, and the public abroad to solicit support for improved global maritime security.

　

 The security of the maritime domain is a global issue. The United States is committed to working closely with our allies and partners around the world to ensure that lawful private and public activities in the maritime domain are protected against attack and criminal or otherwise unlawful or hostile exploitation. Our allies and trading partners recognize the importance the United States places on maritime security, and we will work closely with them to develop effective international maritime security programs. The United States will continue to expand our working partnerships with all who share the goal of a secure and prosperous international trading community. Many Departments and Agencies of the United States government share the challenge of engaging our allies and partners, as well as working with appropriate international and regional organizations and private sector groups in order to secure United States maritime interests around the globe. The Department of State will coordinate with and support other Departments and Agencies in developing and communicating to foreign partners a unified and consistent message regarding global maritime security and United States maritime security programs and initiatives.