For 2011 and 2012, the Federal Republic of Germany will once again take a seat at the table of the United Nations Security Council in New York. With reform efforts to include Germany as one of several new permanent members to the Council progressing at a snail’s pace at best, and with memories of Germany’s 2003-04 tenure as a non-permanent member during the peak of the transatlantic fallout over Iraq still fresh, the next two years could serve well to re-define Germany’s international reputation.
Although there are a host of challenges that the UN continues to face all over the world, the Security Council, at Germany’s urging, should seriously consider placing three distinct maritime security policy issues on its agenda: piracy in the Indian Ocean, the maritime task force component of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, and International Law of the Seas.
The fact that some of these issues may not be of immediate concern to the Security Council, or even fall under its jurisdiction, should not discourage the German government from actively seeking support for them in the UN. History shows that tenure in the Security Council traditionally provides leverage in advancing policy objectives that may be dealt with in subordinate organizations such as the World Food Program (WFP), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), or the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
After all, as one of the leading maritime nations in the world, second only to the People’s Republic of China in exports of goods, with a substantial expertise in ship building and naval technology, and as home to many of the world’s commercial fleets, Germany should make every effort to advance interests in a true global common: the oceans and seas.
- Piracy in the Indian Ocean
Germany should concentrate efforts on establishing a UN special tribunal to adjudicate cases concerning pirates which have been apprehended.
- United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
Furthermore, Germany, which has previously commanded the Maritime Task Force for extended periods of time and supplied numerous naval vessels in accordance with the UN mission, should take a lead in evaluating the successes and short-comings of the mission, so that lessons can be learned for future UN maritime endeavors.
- International Law of the Seas
In the realm of international law, Germany could work towards achieving a central goal of maritime jurisdiction: The ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS) by the United States of America.
While these maritime challenges potentially mean stormy seas for policy-makers in the UN and in Germany alike, disregarding them altogether would be an opportunity lost for German foreign policy.
With the world’s navies shrinking due to severe budgetary constraints, the role of the UN in providing a new framework for maritime security will only increase. By focusing on the three issues outlined, Germany has a unique opportunity to make a real difference on the Council, and lay a foundation for UN maritime policy for many years to come. The azure blue of the United Nations could be a sign for the world organization’s continuous relevance in maritime and naval issues in this century.
Sebastian Bruns, M.A., is a PhD Candidate at the University of Kiel, Germany, and currently German Marshall Fund of the United States/American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow in Washington, D.C. The views expressed here are solely those of the author.
To read the full article, including expanded analysis of the three main points, please open the attached pdf document.
- 6
January 11, 2011
Felix F. Seidler, Atlantische Initiative, Platinum Contributor (329)
Thank you for this well written article. Anymore, I agree with you that maritime issues have to be uprated on the Security Council´s agenda.
Furthermore, this is may be truly an opportunity for German foreign policy. However, I am skeptical, whether German politicians are willing to pursue such a maritime agenda. With Afghanistan and the Euro Crisis ongoing, henceforth, maritime issues are unlikely to receive the attention they deserve. Moreover, Merkel, Guttenberg and Westerwelle do not seem to be politicians with a significant maritime focus. Instead, Guttenberg stays occupied with his department´s reform. Hence, Germany will move quite slowly towards “sea-eyesight”.
Additionally, I am wondering whether the UN, besides mandates, is the right body for maritime missions. Security Council permission, however, is always helpful. But with Russia and China navigating more and more towards the blue waters, it may be harder to achieve security council permissions for further maritime operations. Moreover, the operational work should not be done within a UN framework. As one can see on the Horn of Africa, the work is done by NATO, the EU and a number of other states (Japan, China, Russia, Australia, et al). Especially NATO has much more maritime know how than the UN. Hence, NATO may be the most useful instrument to conduct UN mandated maritime missions. Furthermore, a NATO framework´s benefit is, beyond, that it is easier to mobilize US capabilities. Maritime operations are likely to depend on the US navy. However, the US are quite skeptical, when it comes to talks about subordinating their forces under the UN.
Otherwise, I disagree with your assessment of “the world’s navies shrinking”. The BRICs, Japan, South Korea, Australia are investing in their navy´s modernization and enlargement. Instead, Western navies will shrink or stagnate. See England´s air craft carriers. In my view, Germany, next to UN, should try to pursue a maritime agenda within the EU, after the EU´s Common Foreign and Security Policy awakes from its hibernation.
In case of Somalia, there is no nation to rebuild. Although not recognized, Somaliland is an independent state. The recognized Somali government has no control over the country and is unlikely to defeat the Islamist militias. In my view, the international community should pursue new ways in Somalia, instead clamp at a wreck. After South Sudan got the chance to vote, Somaliland could get one as well.