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naval cooperation: a view from australia
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Multilateral security cooperation is an integral aspect of the evolving
regional security architecture … cooperation among regional defences
forces – involving reciprocal visits of senior officers, joint exercises and
joint training programs – has burgeoned. Concepts and mechanisms
for conflict prevention and arms control are now receiving more
serious official consideration, with a view towards institutionalizing
arrangements for preventive diplomacy and conflict resolution within
the next five to ten years. There is also considerable interest in the
institutionalization of mechanism to prevent the proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction. 6
Cooperative multilateral defence activities have a positive affect on the cooperation
between different navies in the maritime environment, this in turn is improving regional
maritime security. The improvement of security lessens tensions between countries.
Multilateral naval agreements can make provisions for ‘regulating dangerous
manoeuvres, restricting harassment and establishing better means of communication
at sea … establishing a uniform system of communications for military vessels’. 7 A
multilateral approach towards incidents at sea will reduce the number of naval incidents:
A multilateral agreement incorporating restrictions on dangerous
manoeuvres and harassment would probably give such regulations
the same status as the rules of the road. The overall effect would be to
build confidence on high seas. 8
It will also lessen disputes between ships and nations. The recent multilateral exercise
held by the Pakistan Navy, Exercise AMAN 09 (Translated as Exercise PEACE) was a
great success. It involved naval participation from 31 countries and was:
Designed to improve maritime security in the region, strengthen
international partnerships and highlight the importance of maritime
cooperation … This exercise provides US and international forces
the opportunity to work together and train across the spectrum of
naval disciplines … Aman 2009 will improve the interoperability and
tactical proficiency between coalition nations and enhance our navies’
effectiveness in supporting maritime security objectives. 9
The benefits of multilateral or bilateral naval exercises is that they assist partner
nations to plan and execute command, control, and communications systems in support
of future combined humanitarian, peacekeeping and disaster relief operations. The
training gained from such exercises will also allow participating nations to continue
developing partnerships in the region and further enhance joint military capabilities.
Joint bilateral or multilateral exercise will improve the assembled nations’ ability to
work collaboratively towards solving a shared regional crisis. In the long term such
collaborations will increase world stability.