Compass Points - Calling all MEUs
Trouble spots need Marines.
Compass Points - Calling all MEUs
Trouble spots need Marines.
March 25, 2024
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Some of the elements of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) are now back home and were greeted by family, friends, and the Secretary of the Navy. As reported in USNI News, the deployment was busy.
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. . . The Bataan ARG, with elements of the 26th MEU embarked, deployed in July. It was meant to be a crisis response force for U.S. Naval Forces Europe, but it received redirect orders sending it to the Strait of Hormuz where it acted as deterrence against Iranian forces, which were attempting to seize ships. It then transferred to the Red Sea as part of the U.S. response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Southern Israel and then the Red Sea attacks by the Houthis . . .
-- USNI News
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It is good the 26th MEU is home. Still, there was a sound operational reason for them to be in the Eastern Mediterranean. The operational need is as strong as ever. What should happen now is the 26th MEU should be replaced by another MEU. But that is not going to happen any time soon.
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The operational need for a MEU right now in the Eastern Mediterranean is not the only place a MEU would strengthen global security and give US policy makers more options. A strong case can be made that there are at least three additional trouble spots that need a Marine MEU now.
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A Marine MEU should be patrolling with the Indian Navy in the Northern Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. There are substantial dangers in this area. Reuters is reporting, "India brings back 35 Somali pirates as part of operations near Red Sea."
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. . . The pirates seized by Indian commandoes face up to life in prison as the first to be prosecuted under India's 2022 anti-piracy law, which enables the navy to apprehend and arrest pirates on the high seas.
The Somalis were using the Ruen as their "mother ship" to launch attacks on other vessels, navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar told a press conference marking the 100th day of the operations. The commandoes rescued all 17 crew members.
India has responded to 18 incidents, deploying 21 ships and 5,000 personnel in rotation, boarding and investigating over 1,000 vessels, the navy said. Its unprecedented presence has deployed more than a dozen warships some days.
"The task is to ensure that there is safety, security and stability" in the region, Kumar said.
"We are able to live up to the requirement of being a first responder and a preferred security partner... to ensure that the Indian Ocean region is safe, secure and stable."
-- Reuters
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The Indian Navy is expanding its capabilities and a MEU working with them would help build stronger ties between the two nations. India is a growing force for stability in the region. In addition, a MEU in this part of the world would be available for operations off Yemen in the Red Sea, or in the Persian Gulf, and could also arrive off the coast of Somalia if the situation there continues to deteriorate.
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Besides a MEU in the Eastern Med and another in the Northern Indian Ocean, another MEU is needed now off the coast of Haiti. As Military.com reports:
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The Marine Corps has sent a special response unit to Haiti to supplement security, allow non-emergency personnel to depart and relieve Marines previously manning posts at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, the capital of the country that has descended into turmoil amid widespread gang violence.
A Marine Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team, or FAST, unit arrived in the capital, according to a statement from U.S. Southern Command on Wednesday, though it did not specify when. The U.S. military previously conducted an airlift evacuation of non-essential personnel from the embassy, which is still open but limited in its capacity, the command said.
U.S. Southern Command said that the need for the FAST came at the request of the State Department, and that it "is prepared with a wide range of contingency plans to ensure the safety and security of U.S. citizens in Haiti."
-- Military.com
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The Marine Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team is a very fine unit, but if the Marine Corps needs to be ready to "conduct a wide range of contingency plans to ensure the safety and security of U.S. citizens in Haiti" then it is time to get a MEU to Haiti. The Marine Corps has a long history in Haiti and Marines must be ready, if they get the call again, to go in.
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Finally, how long is the US going to allow the Philippines to knock heads directly with China just off the Philippine coast without sending a MEU to calm the situation and provide a strong deterrence? USNI News is reporting, "China Attacks Philippine Ship, Injures Crew in Latest Escalation of South China Sea Standoff."
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. . . Despite the damages incurred by Chinese forces, the Philippine resupply mission persisted and eventually reached Second Thomas Shoal after six hours of harassment. According to a statement from the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, the China Coast Guard further attempted to block the operation by deploying a barrier at the entrance of the shoal’s lagoon.
The [Philippine] Marines onboard Sierra Madre had to deploy RHIBs to complete the resupply and personnel rotation, as Unaizah Mae 4 did not have the ability to come alongside the outpost. The mission concluded eight hours after it started, resulting in yet more injuries and damage to a Philippine Navy-crewed vessel.
Chinese attempts to stop the Philippine resupply missions have escalated since they began last summer. While Manila has strengthened its defense and security relations with the U.S., Australia and Japan and brought the issue to international headlines through a media campaign, China has doubled down on its efforts through the deployment of new measures and increasing the amount of vessels deployed to block the missions . . . .
-- USNI News
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The safety and security of both the United States and the world would be improved with MEUs in the Eastern Med, in the Northern Indian Ocean, off the coast of Haiti, and off the coast of the Philippines.
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The long years of operations in and around the Middle East caused the number of MEUs on continuous worldwide patrol to be reduced. First there were gaps of weeks and then gaps of months before one MEU would replace another. Now, as with the 26th MEU, there often is no ARG/MEU available at all.
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To rebuild, enhance, and upgrade the global crisis response capabilities of the Marine Corps it is time to look at the entire, robust need for global MEUs. The number of MEUs on patrol around the world today is far below the need. It is time to stop the divestments and begin with a fresh perspective on how many worldwide MEUs are needed today.
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One of the many flaws with the Force Design is the proponents of Force Design were too timid to forthrightly brief Congress on the need for additional funding to get more MEUs back on patrol. Failure to advocate for more funding when more funding is crucial is not a virtue. If no additional funding is requested, no additional funding can be on the way. How can Congress make sound budget decisions if they are not fully briefed on the critical needs? There are crises igniting all over the world. If the US can get some MEUs to the site of a crisis and if those MEUs are supported by Maritime Prepositioning Ships so the MEU can be rapidly expanded, augmented, and reinforced, then those small blazes can be quickly extinguished.
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Small blazes left to burn, however, turn into infernos. There is a reason why Americans have always understood how important it is to be able to, "Send in the Marines!" Sending in Marines early means small crises are ended quickly. Waiting to send in the Marines means the crisis expands, spreads, and grows more deadly. Compass Points salutes all the Marines on worldwide patrol today and everyone working now to help get more Marines out on global patrol 24/7/365 so the United States can be strong today and stronger tomorrow.
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USNI News - 03/21/2024
USS Bataan Crew Welcomed Home By Families, SECNAV Del Toro
By Heather Mongilio
https://news.usni.org/2024/03/21/uss-bataan-crew-welcome-home-by-families-secnav-del-toro
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Reuters - 03/23/2024
India brings back 35 Somali pirates as part of operations near Red Sea
By Krishn Kaushik
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Military.com - 03/13/2024
Marine Corps Sends Special Response Unit to Haiti After Partial US Embassy Evacuation
By Drew F. Lawrence and Rachel Nostrant
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USNI News - 03/23/2024
China Attacks Philippine Ship, Injures Crew in Latest Escalation of South China Sea Standoff
By Aaron-Matthew Lariosa
I remember “In Chop, out chop” briefings in Rota as one MAU was coming into the Med as the other was leaving. Back in the early 80’s our country could always count on the Marines to be available for contingencies in the Med 365 days a year. The world has changed since then but different dangers still lurk.
We've needed additional amphibs for at least 15 years. We don't have them. Build the ships.