Pakistan Navy is organizing the ninth iteration of AMAN multinational maritime exercises in February this year, expecting the participation of more than 60 countries.
The exercise has become the flagship event of the Pakistan Navy towards fostering inclusive maritime community to fight against non-traditional threats, including terrorism and organized crimes, in the maritime domain. These threats, according to the most recent report of International Maritime Organization (IMO) remain significant, and complacency could lead to a resurgence in piracy and maritime terrorism.
Besides exhibiting united resolve against terrorism and organized crimes in the sea, AMAN also attempts to build bridges during the time of global polarization amidst the great power competition
Besides exhibiting united resolve against terrorism and organized crimes in the sea, AMAN also attempts to build bridges during the time of global polarization amidst the great power competition. This multilateral naval exercise has the unique distinction of hosting the navies of the United States, China and Russia together in 2021. Moreover, has featured both China and the US as participants since 2007. Members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue – Australia and Japan, in addition to the US – also participate in these exercises regularly, with India being the only exception. The exercises – accompanied by onshore activities across a range of areas in security policy, blue economy and culture – make it a site for comprehensive maritime cooperation and networking.
Seas have always acted as the common heritage of mankind, connecting peoples and geographies. However, since the instability in the Middle East and civil wars in Africa increased in intensity across the first decade of the 21st century, the importance of maritime cooperation to avoid spillover of instability at land into the sea also increased manifold.
With a long history of international security collaboration, Pakistan has been able to present the image of a reliable all-weather partner in maintenance of good order at sea
These events led to the formation of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) under the US leadership to ensure maritime security from the Suez Canal to the Persian Gulf. Pakistan has been its most active member, commanding the Combined Task Forces (CTF) 150 and 151 for the eleven and thirteen times, respectively, the most among any member of the 46-country coalition. At the same time, Pakistan also continues to deploy the Regional Maritime Security Patrols (RMSP) independently across the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf region, providing a year-round presence for the “plug-and-play maritime security architecture” as noted by the Pakistan Navy commander of the CTF 151.
With a long history of international security collaboration, Pakistan has been able to present the image of a reliable all-weather partner in maintenance of good order at sea. This has been done through concerted strategic communications and meaningful international dialogue, which is usually organized in tandem with AMAN at sea. At the annual AMAN exercises, this has traditionally been the objective of the “harbor phase”, which also includes an International Maritime Conference (IMC) in addition to other activities.
However, a hybrid conference of academics and policymakers is not enough to project a comprehensive narrative. Maritime security remains an understudied, under-utilized domain in Pakistan’s academic and policy spheres.
