MANAMA, Bahrain – Graphic illustration of the flag of Colombia and the Combined Maritime Forces logo. CMF welcomed Colombia, Jan. 21th, as the 41th member of the world’s largest maritime security partnership. 240127-N-NO146-1001.JPG, Photo By: NAVCENT Public Affairs

Below is a news release from Combined Maritime Forces / US 5th Fleet.

I would not normally make a separate post about this, but recently I saw someone remark that International Law has no enforcement mechanism.

Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) is an international law enforcement mechanism.

It is, after all, not a military alliance, it is a law enforcement alliance, and while its police powers are limited, they are nevertheless real. Its power extends beyond national territorial seas and is derived from the concurrence of its members that certain behaviors are unacceptable.

It is not yet effective against nation states, but it does operate against the gray zone agents of nation states.

This is a remarkable development and overtime, hopefully, it will be extended to other geographic areas and broadened in scope.

Colombia Joins Combined Maritime Forces in Middle East as 41st Member

By Combined Maritime Forces Public Affairs | January 27, 2024

MANAMA, Bahrain —Combined Maritime Forces welcomed Colombia as the 41st member of the world’s largest maritime security partnership, Jan 21.

“It is a privilege to have Colombia as an official part of CMF,” said Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, CMF commander. “We welcome the Colombians in the largest international naval coalition, dedicated to maritime security and stability in the Middle East, and protecting some of the world’s most important waterways. I look forward to sharing our experiences and being ‘Ready Together’ with our new partners.”

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.