Kathleen H. Hicks Deputy Secretary of Defense | Official Website
The Department of Defense has announced the launch of the Maritime Security (MARSEC) Consortium, a new initiative aimed at enhancing maritime security in Southeast Asia. The announcement was made by Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Pete Nguyen.
The MARSEC Consortium is a collaborative effort involving defense industry investors, companies, U.S. government officials, and Southeast Asian government decision-makers. Its goal is to identify low-cost, commercially available solutions to address maritime security challenges faced by Southeast Asian partners. The consortium is being launched in collaboration with the Defense Innovation Unit, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
According to Maj. Pete Nguyen, "The MARSEC Consortium will convene decision-makers, operators, and solution providers." The aim is to align policy objectives with operational challenges using commercially available solutions that can be demonstrated and delivered efficiently.
In pursuit of its goals, the consortium plans to advance over $95 million annually towards solutions that enhance maritime domain awareness and defense capabilities in Southeast Asia. It also intends to regularly bring together stakeholders from both the Department of Defense and industry sectors to overcome barriers in delivering these solutions.
Additionally, efforts will be made to work with like-minded partners to align security cooperation activities with MARSEC's objectives and expand technology demonstrations through multilateral exercises such as BALIKATAN.
The United States aims for a Southeast Asian region characterized by safety, security, sovereignty, self-determination, and prosperity under ASEAN centrality. With over 60 percent of global maritime trade passing through Southeast Asia by ship, maintaining open trading lanes is crucial for regional security and prosperity.
Maj. Pete Nguyen emphasized that "the United States is committed to ensuring these trading lanes remain free and open for all."
