CMF headquarters staff outside Combined Maritime Forces Headquarters, Bahrain, October 2023.
The Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) is a multinational maritime partnership that upholds the International Rules Based Order (IRBO) by countering illicit non-state actors on the high seas and promoting security, stability and prosperity across approximately 3.2 million square miles of international waters, which encompass some of the world’s most important shipping lanes.
CMF’s main focus areas are counter-narcotics, counter-smuggling, suppressing piracy, encouraging regional cooperation, and engaging with regional and other partners to strengthen relevant capabilities and improve overall security and stability, and promote a safe maritime environment free from illicit non-state actors. When requested, CMF assets at sea will also respond to environmental and humanitarian crises.
- CMF has five Combined Task Forces:
CMF comprises 45 nations: Albania, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Türkiye, UAE, United Kingdom, United States, and Yemen.
CMF is commanded by a U.S. Navy Vice Admiral, who also serves as Commander, U.S. Navy Central Command (NAVCENT) and U.S. 5th Fleet. All three commands are co-located at U.S. Naval Support Activity Bahrain.
CMF’s Deputy Commander is a UK Royal Navy Commodore. Other senior staff roles at CMF’s headquarters are filled by personnel from member nations. Find out more about the current CMF leadership.
CMF nations are united in their desire to uphold the IRBO by protecting the free flow of commerce, improving maritime security, and deterring illicit activity by non-state actors in the CMF Area of Operations. CMF is a coalition of the willing. The contribution from each country varies depending on the ability to contribute assets and the availability of those assets at any given time.
The 45 nations that comprise CMF are not bound by either a fixed political or military mandate. CMF is a flexible organization. Contributions can vary from the provision of a liaison officer at CMF HQ in Bahrain, to the deployment of warships or maritime reconnaissance aircraft. We can also call on warships not explicitly assigned to CMF to give associated support. This allows a warship to offer assistance to CMF while concurrently undertaking national tasking.
Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) 