I Helped Defeat the Somali Pirates. Here's How to Do It Again.

The article focuses on the resurgence of Somali piracy, highlighted by the recent hijacking of the Greek-owned tanker Hellas Aphrodite off Somalia’s coast and the ongoing threat to maritime security in the region. It details past international counter-piracy efforts, including NATO and the European Union’s Operation Atalanta, which successfully suppressed piracy through multinational cooperation, engagement with the International Maritime Organization, and coordinated naval operations. The author emphasizes that lasting solutions require addressing piracy’s root causes ashore through military disruption of pirate infrastructure and economic development to provide alternatives to piracy. The article also stresses the importance of legal frameworks and regional partnerships in prosecuting pirates and maintaining maritime security.