April 24, 2009 - Since the beginning of 2009, more than 60 ships have been attacked off the coast of Somalia. The recent activity of pirates in the vicinity of the Gulf of Aden has been a growing concern for the international community.

To offer security in the maritime domain, governments around the world need the ability to directly confront threats such as piracy, drug trafficking, and illegal immigration. No single navy or nation can do this alone.

Current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael G. Mullen put forward the idea "1,000-ship Navy" at the outset of his tenure as former U.S. Chief of Naval Operations to enhance the stability and security of the maritime environment. The idea grew into the concept of "global maritime partnerships," in which nations build partnerships to maintain security on the seas for all. The National Research Council researched the steps that would need to be taken in order to build global maritime partnerships, and its conclusions were published in the 2008 report Maritime Security Partnerships.