Overview: I was a contributing author on this report for Stable Seas. This report shows that violent non-state actors (VNSAs) exploit maritime spaces far beyond attacking soft targets. While land-based operations have limited their activities, VNSAs operate at sea almost unchallenged due to “sea blindness” — global inattention to maritime threats. They use the oceans for logistics, financing, and operations, and a comprehensive understanding of these activities is essential to counter their resilience.

• Maritime Operational and Financial Activities
  VNSA activities at sea are classified under the “5 T” framework: Tactical Support, Targeting, Take, Traffic & Trade, and Tax & Extort. Operational scores (Tactical Support and Targeting) measure the ability to conduct attacks at sea, while financial scores (Take, Traffic & Trade, Tax & Extort) reflect how much VNSAs fund their operations via maritime activities. Both scores highlight strengths and vulnerabilities for targeted countermeasures.
• Diverse Strategies and VNSA Profiles
  The report analyzes 43 VNSAs, describing ideology, operational areas, history, and recent events. Each profile includes operational and financial scores, along with affiliations, outlooks, and opportunities. This demonstrates that maritime strategies are as varied as the groups themselves, requiring tailored policy and enforcement responses.
• Exploitation of Maritime Space
  VNSAs exploit weakly governed or contested maritime areas, often along interstate boundaries, to move personnel, smuggle goods, and conduct illicit activities. These zones serve as strategic refuges when land routes are restricted, amplifying resilience and operational reach.
• Disconnect Between Land and Sea Operations
  Land-based law enforcement and military efforts are frequently poorly coordinated with maritime agencies. Integrated operations across domains are critical to prevent VNSAs from exploiting gaps in surveillance and enforcement.

Bottom Line: VNSAs leverage the maritime domain for both operational and financial purposes, sustaining resilience despite land-based pressure. The “5 T” framework provides a method to assess and counter these threats. Effective strategies require integrated maritime governance, financial disruption of VNSA funding, and coordinated regional enforcement to close the gaps that extremists currently exploit.