December 03, 2025
An Overlooked National Security Challenge: Maritime Supply Chain Security
Insights from a Pathfinder Finalist
In recent years, U.S. policymakers have paid increasing
attention to the vulnerabilities of supply chains, especially in terms of
securing access to critical minerals. Yet the security of maritime supply
chains remains underdiscussed despite accounting for 80
percent of global trade by volume. Effectively addressing these challenges
requires a coordinated, multilateral approach that integrates advanced
technology, intelligence sharing, and robust regulatory frameworks while
ensuring that both public and private stakeholders are prepared to quickly respond
to disruptions at sea.
Shipping is the dominant method for transporting goods across the world, which means the functioning of the global economy depends on maritime security. While the six-day blockage of the Suez Canal by the container ship Ever Given in 2021 brought the world’s attention to the vulnerabilities of maritime supply chains, in general maritime security remains an underexamined topic among the wider U.S. policymaking community. Considering the importance of maritime security to global security, as well as the rising number and types of threats, U.S. policymakers must consider new ways to address this issue outside U.S. territory.
Read the full essay on Breaking Defense.
This essay is the winner of Pathfinder, a national security essay contest run by CNAS and Breaking Defense. Pathfinder’s goal is to elevate emerging voices in defense and national security by giving authors an opportunity to write and publish with a premier think tank and a leading defense outlet. Learn more about Pathfinder here and read an excerpt of the essay below.