Define maritime security operations.

Maritime security operations are fundamentally concerned with safeguarding maritime resources and ensuring freedom of navigation. This encompasses a wide range of activities aimed at protecting the sea lanes that are critical for international trade and commerce. By ensuring that shipping routes remain safe and usable, these operations help to mitigate risks such as piracy, smuggling, and potential maritime conflicts.

The concept includes various measures such as surveillance, patrolling, and cooperation with international partners to monitor and address threats to maritime safety. Ensuring freedom of navigation is particularly vital given that a substantial portion of global trade occurs via maritime channels. These operations are essential not only for the protection of individual nations' maritime interests but also for maintaining the stability and security of the broader international maritime environment.