Maritime Economic Enforcement Measures: ‘Winning Without Killing’ in Modern Conflicts at Sea

This chapter deals with the non-kinetic side of naval operations. In particular, it deals with the use of naval forces in applying economic maritime enforcement measures. There has always been a solid connection between the use of the navy and the economy. Traditionally, the relationship between naval forces and the economy has come to be expressed in two principles where during conflict the navy aims to destroy the opponent’s economy, and during both peacetime and conflict the navy aims to protect the State’s own economic interests. At an operational level, three models of enforcing economic maritime enforcement measures can be identified that translate these principles to today’s naval operations: traditional economic warfare operations, maritime embargo operations and maritime security operations. These measures are also often considered to be at the low end of the use of force scale.