International Maritime Security Construct


The International Maritime Security Construct is a consortium of countries officially tasked with maintaining order and security in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, particularly regarding the oil supply. It was formed on 16 September 2019 in Bahrain, by the United Kingdom, Australia, Albania, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Lithuania, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States, which leads the initiative.
The IMSC's primary tasks will be monitoring the waters of the region, specifically to ensure the freedom of navigation of merchant vessels plying their trade in the area. The security construct was formed after multiple oil tankers and merchant ships were attacked which were widely blamed on Iran as well to deter Iran's seizure of tankers in the region's waters."

Formation

Earlier in summer 2019 near the Strait of Hormuz, a Norwegian tanker and a Japanese tanker were attacked, and the British tanker Stena Impero was seized. Several Gulf states signed on in mid-September in the wake of attacks on the Abqaiq facility.
Shortly thereafter, the ISMC was formed "in support of regional and international efforts to deter and counter threats to maritime navigation and global trade in order to secure freedom of navigation in the gulf amid heightened regional tensions... after attacks on oil tankers that were widely blamed on Iran, as well as to address Iran's seizure of tankers in the region."
U.S. Air Force General Paul Selva, vice chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, describes the purpose of the IMSC as protecting the freedom of navigation in the waters of the region, while the commander of U.S. Naval Forces in the Middle East defines its role as strictly defensive.
Lithuania joined the coalition in March 2020.

Command

The IMSC command is shared between alliance countries. Posts last around three months.
On January 30, 2020, Royal Navy Commodore James Parkin took over command of the consortium from US Navy Rear Admiral Alvin "Bull" Holsey. Parkin handed over command to Commodore Robert Bellfield in May 2020.
NameServicePhotoTerm beganTerm endedNotes
1.Rear Admiral Alvin "Bull" Holsey United States NavyNovember 7, 2019January 30, 2020
2.Commodore James Parkin Royal NavyJanuary 30, 2020April 30, 2020
3.Commodore Robert Bellfield Royal NavyApril 30, 2020Incumbent