Thought it would be worthwhile to take a look at the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) website, not just because of what they have been doing, but also because of what they could be, a model for multilateral maritime law enforcement organizations in other areas as well.
Recently we have had reports of Webber class FRCs doing drug interdiction under CTF150.
- “Coast Guard FRC Seizes Illegal Narcotics in Gulf of Oman” –Seapower/Same Job, Different Hemisphere, Sept. 2022.
- U.S. Naval Forces in Middle East Interdict $29 Million in Illegal Drugs” –Seapower, Oct. 2022
The CMF News portion of their website has even more USCG stories. These are from only the last six months.
- U.S. Naval Forces in Middle East Interdict $29 Million in Illegal Drugs
- U.S. Coast Guard Ship Seizes $48 Million in Drugs in Middle East
- U.S. Coast Guard in Middle East Seizes $85 Million in Heroin
- U.S. Ship Seizes Illegal Narcotics in Gulf of Oman
- U.S. Coast Guard Ship in Middle East Interdicts $17 Million in Drugs
Earlier I proposed a “Combined Maritime Security Task Force Pacific.” CMF could provide a model for creation of similar maritime law enforcemernt task forces in several locations.
CMF is a creation of Fifth Fleet. It has different task forces for different geographic areas. Potentially other geograph fleets could form similar organizations.
- 7th Fleet might sponsor one CMF task force for the South China Sea and another for Oceania
- 4th Fleet might sponsor a task force for the Eastern Pacific drug transit zone and another for the Caribbean
- 6th Fleet one for the Gulf of Guinea
These would be law enforcement alliances which should be more welcomed than military alliances. They might be extended to include SAR, disaster response, and Marine Environmental Protection.

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Not good news, “United Arab Emirates departs from US led partnership Combined Maritime Forces” https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2023/june/13207-united-arab-emirates-departs-from-us-led-partnership-combined-maritime-forces.html
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From a New Zealand perspective. https://seawaves.com/2023/08/11/rnzn-sailors-take-part-in-middle-east-drug-bust/
“Middle East Naval Coalition Expands with Jordan as 12th Member” https://seapowermagazine.org/middle-east-naval-coalition-expands-with-jordan-as-12th-member/
Not sure why this additional coalition exists, perhaps to do things where the Combined Maritime Forces could not reach an agreement?
Sri Lanka Joins Combined Maritime Forces in Middle East as 39th Member
https://www.cusnc.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/3606898/sri-lanka-joins-combined-maritime-forces-in-middle-east-as-39th-member/
News Release:
MANAMA, Bahrain —
On Jan. 11, the Combined Maritime Forces welcomed Ecuador as the 40th member of the world’s largest maritime security partnership.
“Ecuador joining CMF only makes us stronger,” said Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, CMF commander. “This growing international naval coalition benefits mightily from having Ecuadorians standing shoulder-to-shoulder with other CMF nations, dedicated to maritime security and stability in the Middle East region, and protecting some of the world’s most important waterways. I look forward to being ‘Ready Together’ with such maritime professionals.”
CMF is comprised of a headquarters staff and five combined task forces focusing on defeating terrorism, preventing piracy, encouraging regional cooperation, and promoting a safe maritime environment. The naval partnership upholds the international rules-based order by supporting security and stability across 3.2 million square miles of water encompassing some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.