USNI Blog – The U.S. Coast Guard, the world’s ocean-beat cop, is well-suited for the diplomatic-military role required to curtail China’s bullying in the South China Sea, while still retaining its reputational goodwill in disputed regions. The Coast Guard can act as diplomatic warfighters, offering a gloved hand (that can hold brass knuckles.) With a series of minor course adjustments, the Coast Guard can remain relevant in ocean governance and security, and may yet thwart the demise of its cuttermen and its fleet.

USNI Blog – The Coast Guard has stood the watch along U.S. coasts since the earliest days of the Revenue Cutter Service, protecting against myriad threats large and small. As the current National Security Strategy directs the U.S. military to refocus on countering peer and near-peer threats, the time is ripe for the Coast Guard to field coastal defense cruise missiles (CDCM) to both defend the homeland and prevail in a war at sea.

USNI News – For the first time in almost five decades, the Coast Guard’s heavy icebreaker won’t be supporting Antarctic scientific missions in coming months but will operate instead the Arctic near Alaska, the ice breaker’s commander said recently.

CIMSEC – In February 2020, the U.S. Coast Guard published guidelines for port facilities to address cybersecurity threats. The new guidelines were needed, but they are not enough. The U.S. Coast Guard should, to carry out its legal duty to safeguard the maritime transportation system, energize the domestic rulemaking process to adopt uniform and enforceable cybersecurity rules for maritime facilities.

USNI News – The Coast Guard has begun at-sea testing of unmanned surface vehicles off the south shore of Oahu to see if the autonomous craft can help provide persistent maritime domain awareness in remote areas of the large ocean

USNI Blog – Considering the historical role space has played in maritime security, the Coast Guard should partner with the USSF to help shape the doctrine and space-based capabilities that will directly contribute to the Coast Guard’s maritime security mission in the decades to come.

Forbes – The San Diego based Coast Guard cutter Bertholf has interdicted a drug-laden narco-submarine in the Eastern Pacific. These vessels are extremely hard to detect and dangerous to board, but the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy and partner forces have stopped at least 19 so far this year. 

(Thanks to Alain)

– USNI Proceedings – To combat a rising China and transnational crime, U.S. maritime law enforcement experts should partner with local nations to increase training and capacity.

Breaking Defense – With one icebreaker down, the US has one left in port — with no new ships scheduled to arrive for years.

– Forbes – The U.S. Coast Guard and Navy have faced an array of so-called narco submarines, purpose built for smuggling cocaine, for the last fifteen years. These are constantly evolving. Now a super-sized narco submarine has been discovered in the Colombian jungle. It represents another evolution of the threat facing U.S. Southern Command’s (SOUTHCOM) Enhanced Counter-Narcotics Operations. The U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, partner navies and law enforcement are determined to stop these vessels, but it is very challenging because they are designed to get through.

(Thanks to Alain)

– USNI Proceedings – Modeled after PatForSWA, PatForIP could build regional partnerships in law enforcement and maritime security.

– CIMSEC – The following provides a re-introduction to Maritime Stability Operations, its preeminence amid the multitude of modern maritime challenges, along with why the Coast Guard — in coordination with the U.S. Department of State — must not only be the lead implementing agency but make maritime stability operations its core or priority future mission focus.

– Defense News – U.S. President Trump ordered a review of the country’s requirements for icebreaking capabilities in the Arctic and Antarctic, with the goal of getting a fleet in place by 2029, according to a memo released Tuesday.

– CIMSEC – In December 2019, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael M. Gilday, released his FRAGO A Design for Maintaining Maritime Superiority. The FRAGO harped on integration with the Marine Corps – mentioning it seven times over the course of the short, eight-page document…But there is still a piece missing – where is the Coast Guard?

– USNI News – While the Coast Guard Fiscal Year 2021 budget funded two important cutters programs, the service’s top official said more investment is needed to support the demanding daily operations at sea and at home. That includes closing the growing backlog of infrastructure repairs and updating failing information technology and communications systems.

– USNI Proceedings – Despite a history of warfighting, the Coast Guard has trouble explaining why it is a military branch.

– USNI Proceedings – The Coast Guard envisioned a networked fleet sharing information and coordinating efforts, but underway connectivity—even for the new national security cutters—remains its Achilles heel.

– War on the Rocks – If the U.S. Department of Defense is serious about emerging from a period of strategic atrophy, the U.S. Coast Guard’s international posture should also change to reflect America’s emphasis on great power competition.

– USNI Proceedings – Africa could be the right place for the U.S. Coast Guard to maneuver against Chinese global efforts.

– USNI Proceedings – A shift from drug interdiction to fisheries protection could be a better use of funds, protect U.S. natural resources, and contribute to mission success.

– USNI News – The U.S. Coast Guard is looking at longer deployments to the Western Pacific region following the successful execution of the Operation Aiga deployment to Samoa and American Samoa.

– USNI News – For the next several years, the Coast Guard’s only heavy icebreaker will lead the annual Antarctic resupply mission as the service develops its new class of icebreaker.

– ABC – A submarine in the Pacific Ocean was found with over 12,000 pounds of cocaine worth over $165 million dollars.

– War Zone – The U.S. Coast Guard has rescued hundreds of people across the Bahamas in the wake of Hurricane Dorian using helicopters operating from a little known and secretive U.S. Navy submarine test base situated on one of the islands in the archipelago.

– USNI News – The Coast Guard’s ability to fold into the U.S. joint armed forces to protect America’s interests globally has “never been more relevant,” a senior Coast Guard officer in the Pacific region told a Navy audience.