Kuala Lampur, May 25 -- In an age of intensifying maritime rivalry and rising naval nationalism, few regions possess the geopolitical leverage, commercial reach, and diplomatic flexibility to shape a new maritime security architecture. But as the seas grow more contested, Asean, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and China are finding common cause - through trade, infrastructure, and now, maritime security.

One of the most underutilised platforms for this cooperation is the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) - a 34-nation naval coalition headquartered in Bahrain.

With task forces operating across the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Gulf, and parts of the Indian Ocean, the CMF's mission is deceptively simple: to guarantee the freedom of navi...