ABSTRACT
NATO: the world’s maritime alliance NATO is the world’s foremost maritime alliance. The Alliance includes several member nations with extended coastlines, centuries-old seafaring traditions, global trade interests, and formidable maritime capabilities. In the globalized twenty-fi rst century, Allies’ welfare is, more than ever, tied to the security and safety of navigation and of maritime trade and travel. At the same time, their security is no less dependent today than in earlier decades on the contributions of an invulnerable undersea nuclear deterrent and of capable and versatile naval forces that can perform the full range of maritime missions and contribute to maritime security in its broadest conception. 1 At sea, NATO’s legacy and destiny merge.
