The Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) is a multinational maritime partnership, which exists to uphold 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.
What we do
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 in order to improve overall security and stability, and promoting a safe maritime environment free from illicit non-state actors. When requested, CMF assets at sea will also respond to environmental and humanitarian incidents.
- CMF has three Combined Task Forces:
- CTF 150 (Maritime Security Operations outside the Arabian Gulf)
- CTF 151 (Counter-Piracy)
- CTF 152 (Maritime Security Operations inside the Arabian Gulf)
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Who we are
- CMF has 33 member nations: Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, United Kingdom, United States, and Yemen.
- CMF is Commanded by a U.S. Navy Vice Admiral, who also serves as Commander US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) and US Navy Fifth Fleet. All three commands are co-located at US 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.
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How CMF works
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 and does not proscribe a specific level of participation from any member nation. The contribution from each country, therefore, varies depending on its ability to contribute assets and the availability of those assets at any given time.
The 33 nations that comprise CMF are not bound by either a fixed political or military mandate. CMF is a flexible organisation. 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 whilst concurrently undertaking national tasking.
CTF Command History
| CTF-150 Command History | No of Times | CTF 151-Command History | No of times | CTF 152-Command History | No of times |
| PAK | 11 | PAK | 9 | US | 10 |
| FRA | 11 | TUR | 6 | Kuwait Navy | 4 |
| UK | 10 | ROK | 5 | Jordan | 3 |
| AUS | 8 | SIN | 5 | Kuwait Coast Guard | 2 |
| GER | 5 | JPN | 4 | KSA | 2 |
| CAN | 5 | KUW | 3 | UAE | 2 |
| DEN | 1 | US | 3 | BAH | 2 |
| NDL | 1 | DEN | 2 | UK | 2 |
| ITA | 1 | NZ | 2 | Aus | 1 |
| ESP | 1 | THAI | 2 | Italy | 1 |
| KSA | 1 | BAH | 1 | ||
| UK | 1 |