Western Maritime Security Architecture by Dr. Babak Shafiee

Source:ardiexpress

Western Maritime Security Architecture 

Dr. Babak Shafiee

PhD in Geopolitics, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran

 Introduction 

After decades of unchallenged U.S. dominance over the seas, the global maritime order is undergoing a structural transformation. The rise of China as an emerging maritime power, its expanding military and commercial fleets, and its efforts to control key trade routes have compelled Washington and its allies to reassess their maritime defense strategies. In this context, three strategic pacts—the Icebreaker Collaboration, the Quad Security Dialogue, and the AUKUS Security Pact—form the backbone of the West’s new maritime security architecture. This article analyzes the strategic, geographic, and technological dimensions of these pacts and their role in countering China’s maritime expansionism. 

 The Battle for the Arctic 

 The Icebreaker Collaboration, signed in July 2024 among the United States, Canada, and Finland, is a direct response to the dual threat posed by China and Russia in the Arctic. Global warming has melted polar ice, opening new maritime routes in the Arctic that reduce commercial shipping times between Asia and Europe by up to 40%. China, self-styled as a “near-Arctic state,” is building heavy icebreakers and investing in polar infrastructure. Russia, with the world’s largest icebreaker fleet, is militarizing the region. 

The pact has three key objectives: revitalizing the icebreaker construction industry in North America and Scandinavia, which has stagnated for decades; sharing technology and production capacity among the three nations; and ensuring a permanent NATO presence in Arctic waters. Finland, with its long-standing expertise in advanced icebreaker design, plays a technological role, while the U.S. and Canada provide mass production capabilities and financial resources. This pact aims to prevent the Arctic from becoming another “Chinese Sea.” 

Containment in the Indo-Pacific 

 

The Quad Security Dialogue, revived in 2017 among the United States, Japan, Australia, and India, is the cornerstone of the West’s strategy to contain China in the Indo-Pacific. Formed in response to China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, construction of artificial islands, and military threats against Taiwan, the Quad’s four members create a strategic geographic chain spanning Northeast Asia to the Indian Ocean, covering vital energy and trade routes. 

The Quad’s objectives extend beyond military cooperation: joint naval exercises like Malabar enhance collective operational capabilities; collaboration on building port infrastructure in Southeast Asia offers alternatives to Chinese projects; intelligence-sharing and maritime surveillance strengthen regional security; and cooperation in critical technology supply chains ensures resilience. India’s role is particularly significant as the largest democracy in Asia and a rising power capable of balancing influence in the Indian Ocean. The Quad operates as an “informal Asian NATO,” achieving deep strategic coordination without a formal organizational structure. 

 

Revolution in Submarine Power 

The AUKUS Security Pact, announced in September 2021 among Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, represents the West’s most significant military step against China. At its core is the provision of nuclear-powered submarines to Australia—only the third time the U.S. has shared this sensitive technology. This decision underscores Australia’s strategic importance in the new security geography. Positioned near critical Indo-Pacific waters, Australia can serve as a forward base for Western operations. 

Nuclear-powered submarines offer significant operational advantages over diesel counterparts: the ability to remain submerged for months without surfacing, unlimited operational range, and high speed. These capabilities enable Australia to monitor maritime routes deep into the Indian Ocean and near strategic chokepoints like Malacca and Hormuz. Beyond submarines, AUKUS includes cooperation on hypersonic missiles, military artificial intelligence, and quantum technologies. The UK’s involvement signals the return of this traditional naval power to the East, adding strategic depth to the alliance. 

Conclusion: 

These three pacts form complementary components of a grand strategy: the Icebreaker Collaboration secures the Arctic, the Quad controls the Western and Southern Pacific, and AUKUS provides advanced military capabilities. Together, they create a maritime security belt from the Arctic to the Indian Ocean, safeguarding critical trade, energy, and technology routes. This architecture is the West’s response to China’s Belt and Road Initiative—not by building new routes but by maintaining control over existing ones. The critical question is whether these pacts can preserve the liberal maritime order against China’s growing economic and military power, or whether the world will witness a permanent division of the seas into rival blocs.