What Is the Challenge of Piracy and Terrorism at Sea, and What Can We Do About It?
As one of the globe’s principal maritime trading states—accounting for nearly 20 percent of all international sea-borne freight in any given year—the United States has a direct, vested interest in securing the oceanic environment. Commodities shipped by sea currently constitute a full quarter of the U.S. gross domestic product, more than double what it was in 1970. Beyond economic considerations, the marine transportation system plays an important role in U.S. national security: The U.S. Departments of Defense and Transportation have jointly designated 17 U.S. ports—13 of which also act as commercial trading hubs—as strategic facilities critical in expediting major overseas military deployments. In this context, a RAND Corporation report assesses the nature of maritime piracy and terrorism and finds that nonstate violence on the seas poses a significant threat. The challenges stemming from piracy are complex and multifaceted, having direct implications for political and economic stabil
