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.

– USNI News – U.S Coast Guard is mulling its future in the Asia-Pacific region once the National Security Cutter USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752) completes its current deployment at the end of November.

– USNI Proceedings – The Coast Guard has led the battle to dismantle the criminal organizations that destabilize the Latin and Central American region. Now it should command the battlespace.

– USNI News – On its recent Indo-Pacific patrols, the Coast Guard cutter USCGC Bertholf (WSML-750) thwarted illegal oil and coal shipments that violated of U.N. Security Council sanctions against North Korea, transited the Strait of Taiwan amid condemnation from China and worked with U.S. allies to bolster their own coast guard forces.

– USNI News – The U.S. Coast Guard will increase its presence and deployments to Asia – particularly around Oceania and U.S. Pacific territories – and test out a new operational deployment concept in the region.

– US Coast Guard – The U.S. Coast Guard is sorely in need of these ships, especially as competition heats up in the Arctic region.

– Breaking Defense – The Coast Guard wants to operate more consistently in the Arctic, but has a fraction of the icebreakers that Moscow can deploy.

– USNI News – U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Thetis (WMEC-910) is halfway through a 90-day mission to Africa’s Atlantic coast and already the crew has helped enforce fishing rights, combat smuggling and piracy and rescue two fishermen who had been declared dead.

– USNI Proceedings – The risk of an unprepared Coast Guard overseeing the protection of the US maritime transportation system in the era of renewed interstate conflict can no longer be overlooked.