Abstract

What explains the rise of maritime private military security companies (PMSCs)? How do they differ from land-based PMSCs? I argue that PMSCs have become major providers of security at sea. Yet maritime PMSCs are not hired by states but by the maritime industry. The United States and allied forces do not guarantee merchant vessels’ day-to-day security. Consequently, shipowners rely on PMSCs and war and piracy insurance to operate their vessels in dangerous waters. The United States, however, plays a vital role in regulating PMSCs and creating environments in which PMSCs can operate effectively. This paper shows that order at sea depends not on the United States’ “hard” naval power but on its leadership in global governance and on its ability to create rules and norms for maritime behavior. It also shows that PMSCs can help secure the oceans if regulated and supported by state authorities. I illustrate this logic through three case studies of how the United States has facilitated private security efforts: during the Iran–Iraq Tanker War, in piracy-prone shipping lanes off Somalia, and in the Persian Gulf following attacks there in 2019.

摘要

什么解释了海上私营军事安保公司 (PMSC) 的兴起？它们与陆基 PMSC 有何不同？我认为 PMSC 已成为海上安全的主要提供者。然而，海事 PMSC 不是由国家雇用，而是由海运业雇用。美国和盟军不保证商船的日常安全。因此，船东依靠 PMSC 以及战争和海盗保险在危险水域运营船只。然而，美国在监管 PMSC 和创造 PMSC 可以有效运作的环境方面发挥着至关重要的作用。本文表明，海上秩序不取决于美国的“硬”海军力量，而是取决于其在全球治理中的领导地位及其为海上行为制定规则和规范的能力。它还表明，如果得到国家当局的监管和支持，私营军事和安保公司可以帮助保护海洋。我通过三个关于美国如何促进私人安保工作的案例研究来说明这一逻辑：在两伊油轮战争期间，索马里沿海海盗频发的航道，以及 2019 年波斯湾发生袭击事件后。