The Oceans - A “Common Heritage of Mankind.”
They play an important role in our Nation's transportation, economy, and trade, and they are critical to the global mobility of our Armed Forces. The oceans and the seas are a key part of the maintenance of international peace and security.
Since before our country's founding in 1776, America has been a maritime power. As such, our economic well-being and our national security has always rested on the oceans. In our early years, America's growth rested on the protection that both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans afforded our country. In the 21st Century, we know that no ocean can protect us from global challenges like terrorism, nuclear security, or in cyberspace. However, how we manage the oceans is a signal about how our country can manage the world’s commons.
America has a unique role to secure the oceans for the benefit of mankind. Unlike territory on land, no army can take and hold the oceans. Securing the oceans does not come from military might alone. Instead, it comes from strategic foresight, planning, and international cooperation. America needs a strategic vision for how to manage common challenges. ASP’s work on the Law of the Sea Treaty, in the Arctic, and on Climate Change are a part of our work on the oceans.
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