Defense Professionals - The Law of the Sea Convention: Perspectives from the U.S. Military

Posted - 08:06 GMT, June 18, 2012 - Defense Professionals - defpro.com

Written testimony of U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Robert Papp, Jr. for a Senate Committee on Foreign Relations hearing

I am pleased to have the opportunity to discuss how United States accession to the Law of the Sea Convention would enhance Coast Guard operations and advance our global leadership. Like the six commandants before me, I am firmly convinced that the legal certainty and stability accorded by the Convention will strengthen Coast Guard efforts in: (1) sustaining mission excellence as America’s maritime first responder; (2) protecting American prosperity; and (3) ensuring America’s Arctic future.

The United States is a maritime and Arctic nation. We have one of the world’s longest coastlines, measuring more than 95,000 miles, and the world’s largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), responsible for over $122 billion in revenue annually. The U.S. maritime transportation system is comprised of 361 ports and thousands of miles of maritime thoroughfares that support 95% of U.S. foreign trade. Most of that trade is transported on over 7,500 vessels that make more than 60,000 visits to U.S. ports annually. The need to secure our maritime rights and interests, including ocean resources, is paramount. To this end, the Coast Guard maintains a persistent maritime presence to protect Americans on the sea, to protect America from threats delivered by sea, and to protect the sea itself.

SUSTAINING MISSION EXCELLENCE AS AMERICA’S MARITIME FIRST RESPONDER

As one of the five armed services of the United States, the Coast Guard provides support to the geographic combatant commanders and U.S. naval presence around the world to ensure the Nation’s national security. The ability to navigate freely in international waters, engage in innocent and transit passage, and enjoy high seas freedoms are critical rights under international law, which the Convention codifies. These rights allow our cutters and aircraft to move without the permission of or need to provide advance notice to other coastal nations. I add my voice to the other armed services in urging that we “lock in” these crucial rights through the Convention to protect them from erosion.
  
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