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2014-03-01
Proper maritime security is of global interest:Vice Admiral Andreas Krause, Deputy Commander of German Naval Forces
By Lt. Khaleil Al Kaabi
In an interview to Nation Shield, Vice Admiral Andreas Krause, Deputy Commander of German Naval Forces, spoke on the higher need for collaboration and cooperation that goes beyond the classical cooperation between navies. Excerpts
First of all how do you evaluate the conference in terms of the subject, participants and speakers?
I think it is a very well chosen subject as much of it is dealing with cooperation. And cooperation is something that is of utmost importance in creating future peace and stability
Can you elaborate on the threats and the challenges faced by the navies worldwide?
That is a complicated question and normally would demand a second lecture. We are in a situation that in addition to the traditional threats a number of unconventional asymmetric threats have come into our lives and pose lots of challenges. They have a wide range from migration, pollution, terrorist attacks and so on. There is a whole variety of asymmetric threats that are challenging the navies, in addition to the traditional ones. But we have to be prepared for this.
How important is the discussion of development of capabilities and integration of modern technologies?
I think we are in a situation, as we do acknowledge, referring to what we just talked about, threats, and we don’t know how the threats will develop. So we have to ensure that we provide our naval assets with a comprehensive variety of capabilities in order to cope with the high intensity of threats. But unlike former times, I think there is a higher need for collaboration and cooperation that goes beyond the classical cooperation between navies. Also we have to cooperate in a joint environment and I think that we have to cooperate even more in a quality, inter-agency, comprehensive way.
And especially in the area of maritime security, navy can play a role but it is definitely not a decisive role because maritime security has a wide variety of challenges. So it has to be dealt with in a very professional and comprehensive way. It needs the cooperation between civil agencies and other agencies and armed forces as well.
How important is the maritime domain surveillance for naval security?
Maritime surveillance is one tool to achieve maritime domain awareness. And awareness is, in the end, something that is based on different tools in order then to be prepared to make proper decisions. Without awareness, you have no clear picture, without a clear picture you don’t know on what basis you prepared your decisions. So, awareness is very crucial for adequate decision making.
What are the strategies that naval commanders are likely to explore considering the complex naval environment worldwide?
I think we have to face the fact that most of us are dependent on global trade. We have to ensure that our society’s well being will be safeguarded at least at the current level and that our well being is not threatened by any means that can interrupt the flow of our goods.
As you may know, 90 percent of exported and imported goods worldwide are transported by sea. And therefore I think to achieve proper maritime security is of global interest. Therefore we have to create networks, not only one network, not only one global network but many networks that have to achieve proper maritime domain awareness. And as I said, navies can play and have to play a role in that and what navies really are to exercise for is to keep and maintain all the capabilities, material-wise, personnel-wise and education/training wise to fulfill the given mandate.
How can Germany and other Western countries help in training local manpower for the region so as to make the region self-reliant in naval security?
As you know, Germany and the UAE have a long lasting partnership for nearly 20 years. This year we will be celebrating our 20th anniversary of close cooperation. I think with a view on maritime environment, we share a common situation, that is, both our countries are operating in confined and shallow waters. Therefore we have some specific capabilities developed in that sector and so I would say that a key field where we can cooperate is in the clearing of mines in this area.
Do you plan to enhance your strategic initiatives in the Middle East?
For us, it is a long way to go. We are currently very much occupied with operations in the Horn of Africa region, where we, together with many other partners, fight one of the biggest challenges we currently have that is piracy which has proven to be capable to interrupt or at least disturb sea lanes of communication or global trade. That is where we stick to because we have learnt that is where we have to defend our interests or our well-being when challenged. So militarily I don’t think that there is any initiative to widen that area currently. However, I have to say it is important to have a close relationship with the GCC countries as well. You are very important nations and we will try to have a presence here also in the area on a regular basis but it need not be on a permanent basis.
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