The United States Navy, like every branch of the military, has been involved in a debate regarding the future of autonomous operating arrangements. One of the biggest concerns of senior politicians and military personnel is the potential threat to freedom and liberty of those in uniform. Indeed such a potential eventuality is at the forefront of much of the recent discussions about military reform and the balance between security and civilian control. As such, the topic of Unmanned Ships will almost certainly be one of the many debated issues that will come to the forefront over the course of this presidential election season.
Many people are understandably concerned about the possibility of greater naval and marine autonomy. Asking the question of whether or not we should give up our individual freedom for the sake of maintaining a strong navy seems an incredibly dangerous question to ask. It seems as though anyone who questions the very basis of the US Navy being able to protect the country would most likely be fundamentally incompatible with the very notion of individual freedom. But ask those who support the concept of greater autonomy and they will argue that without the ability to exercise unfettered will on the sea a strong national fleet can be expected to deterrence any attack on the US by a neighbor or terrorist group. In other words, the argument goes something like this; if we want to guarantee our safety then we must insist upon complete naval and marine autonomy. It goes without saying that any such proposal could be considered rather controversial.
However, there is another side to this argument which also merits some attention. That being; that a greater level of autonomy would ultimately pose a threat to freedom and liberty all over the world. For some time now it has been speculated that other country is trying to establish itself as a greater power by exerting greater control over the seas. While there is no doubting the reality that large parts of the world are populated by individuals and societies that value individual freedom above all else, the leadership has recently demonstrated a willingness to undermine longstanding US policy regarding freedom of navigation in the foreign sea. There have been incursions into Vietnamese-occupied areas and even into disputed islands. Such actions by that country to raise serious questions about whether such freedoms are worth preserving.
Some would say that this is a reaction to US encroachments into the disputed waters of the Seas. Yet it seems rather the wrong rationale to make. For the most part, autonomy for nations within the sea will only empower those who wish to control the oceans themselves. Such a move by a nation with its close proximity to the US and a strong military would embolden neighbors to go even farther in promoting their own interests within the seas. As such, it would not deter future US initiatives which seek to maintain freedom of navigation and other rules and guidelines pertaining to the seas.
Further, such autonomy will do little for global peace and security. After all, what incentive does a nation with its feet planted firmly in the sand have to stick to a mutually beneficial trade agreement or to participate in any type of global organization when it would seem that it could easily unite against such an endeavor. A better solution might be for such nations to take some of their Unmanned Vessels approaches and incorporate them into greater international cooperation and action. Indeed, it may be the path of least resistance, should the United Nation seek to use force to protect its territorial waters and interests. Nevertheless, such a move by a nation with an overwhelming military presence and substantial economic clout would surely send a strong message to other nations and the international community that cooperation at the regional, and global levels is preferable to conflict at the national level.
Having said all of this, it is important to remember that a successful nation-state can exist peacefully without resorting to acts of aggression like the declaration of independence mentioned above. In fact, the United States has enjoyed so many successes at the regional, and global levels thanks to the vigilance of its citizens and their allies. Indeed, the path to further successes lies in fostering these same principles of liberty, freedom, and peacefulness within all nations, as well as within marine autonomia. Check out for more info in this link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomous_underwater_vehicle.