DDRO 22A03 - Ruling the Seas: a Geostrategical Approach

The course is aimed at giving the students a sound understanding of the importance of the maritime factor in international relationships in the Indo-Pacific. The course will outline the maritime threats and security issues in the region while reminding the students that a corpus of international conventions and among them, the United Nations Convention for the Law at Sea (UNCLOS) is the basis for understanding the challenges and opportunities offered by the sea. The notions of Maritime Strategy and Maritime Security will be discussed. The course will highlight how the China/US’ fight for dominance plays out at sea, how the ASEAN states deal with maritime security issues, why India has shifted from non-alignment to a proactive naval diplomacy, why France and Europe view maritime security in the region as a vital interest and, more generally, why naval military power is a strong instrument of influence and political power. The course will go into the specifics of the Indian Ocean (India, West-Africa) the northern Pacific (Japan, Russia, ROK and DPRK,), Oceania (Australia and the Pacific Island Countries, and territories), Arctic and Antarctic.

Pending their availability, Indo-Pacific and maritime security experts (french and foreign military and/or diplomats and/or experts) will be invited to interact with the students through one or two video-conferences.

Biography:

• First woman to reach 3 star level in the French Navy.
• 10 years at sea, 2 commands of French Navy vessels, vice-chief of operations of the French Navy.
• A large array of postings in managing positions, ashore, embarkedand abroad.
• A solid and varied experience which covers leadership and management, planning and conduct of operations, maritime security, international relations, media relations, education and training, executive coaching.

At the end of the course, the student is expected to:

1°) be aware that all activities at sea are subject to an international set of rules that can be used as opportunities or challenges; the students should be able to master the basics of UNCLOS.

• Jurisdiction and rights attached to the internal and territorial waters, contiguous zone, EEZ and High seas, rocks and islands;
• international navigational rights: right of innocent passage and right of transit;

2°) recognize that international relationships in the Indo-Pacific region are heavily influenced by its maritime characteristics; the students should be able to:

• name and describe some of the regional political venues where maritime issues are being discussed;
• name and describe the maritime geostrategic challenges in the Indo-Pacific by zones : Northern Pacific, Western Pacific including the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, Oceania, Indian Ocean including the Horn of Africa and the Mozambique Channel, Arctic and Antarctic;
• be aware of the importance and of the consequences of maritime security issues in the Indo Pacific area;

the students should be able to describe:

• - the main maritime “risk areas” in the region (causes, consequences, potential solutions)
• - the maritime issues at stake in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait
• - the main maritime security partnerships in the Indo-Pacific
• understand that especially in the Indo-Pacific, states compete at sea for political and economical supremacy/influence; the students should be be able to describe:
• the main lines of the Chinese, American, Indian, Japanese, Russian maritime strategies in the Indo- Pacific,
• the main lines of the ASEAN countries’ maritime strategies,
• the main lines of Australia’s maritime strategy,
• the main lines of the European Union’s strategy in the region,
• the main lines of France’s strategy in the region;
• recognize that “ruling the seas” (exploitation of resources, holding strategic choke points, protection of national waters and coastline..) depends on having assets to enforce one’s power; the students’ knowledge should encompass:
• a global knowledge of « maritime assets » : navies (incl the specific role of carrier strike/battle groups), coast-guards, maritime militia, fishing fleets, maritime facilities, maritime information fusion centres…
• a comparative assessment of the main military powers in the Indo Pacific: USA, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India and Russia
• the capacity to describe the reasons and consequences of the “race for armaments” in the region
• the Maritime Domain Awareness concept
• understand the key elements of a maritime strategy; the students should be able to name and briefly describe naval warfare notions such as sea command sea denial, sea control, power projection, and be able to distinguish between Maritime Security Strategy and Naval Strategy.

Pedagogical formats: Lectures, debates and group works

To validate the course, the student is expected to pass the following assignments:

1°) group or individual presentation on a given subject 25%

2°) written exam on one given subject (1 hour in class) (25%): one week ahead, students will be invited to research a given subject pertaining to the Indo-Pacific maritime issues and will be asked one question on given subject. Introduction, development and conclusion will be required.

3°) final written exam (2 hours in class) (50%): 5 questions based on the course.