NATO skeptical of the resurgence of pirate attacks
(BRUSSELS2) Experts from NATO's maritime center did indeed analyze the current situation on Monday (15 August). Although they are concerned about the situation in the southern Red Sea, the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden, they believe that the numerous reports on the ""swarm" attacks of pirate skiffs attacking merchant traffic reported last month" are to be taken with tweezers (NB: in particular reported by the Iranian navy, see latest news from july 31). " We are skeptical that this may be the activity of hackers”. According to NATO, “despite numerous reports, piracy activity in this area remains constant, but at low intensity. " In July we had three confirmed attacks out of 22 reports and no hijacked merchant ships. The weather is such that operating in both the Arabian Sea and the Somali Basin remains a challenge and there is currently no known pirate activity in these areas. ". (...) " Rather, it seems that the pirate attacks are moving further north into the Red Sea. as evidenced by the latest reports. Two pirate attacks were confirmed on August 12 in the southern Red Sea. The two attacked ships were able to escape their pursuers, composed of two skiffs having on board respectively 3 and 4 pirates in two very close places (14.34 North and 42.23 East; 15.09 North and 41.55 East).
It would be interesting to know what statistics or data NATO experts base their conclusions on. Indeed, it is necessary to know whether these come from the various military maritime missions in the area concerned or from marine insurers and shipowners' reinsurance pools. In addition, two parameters must be taken into account for a more detailed analysis of piracy in this area. One is meteorological, the monsoon phenomenon which no longer allows piracy teams to operate twice a year. This one is starting and will last two months. The other, in my opinion, more interesting is whether all the piracy attacks in the Indian Ocean is to be attributed to Somali pirates. Indeed, some geographical positions are very far from the Somali coast. I am thinking, in particular, of certain attacks off the Iranian coast. Historically, the phenomenon of piracy, while developing, was not to be attributed to a single participant having a defined geographical point but to a multitude of participants.
Regarding the pirate camps located on the island of Socotra, it would be quite easy to neutralize them. It's not a big secret to know where the piracy “business” is going in this area. The neutralization and sanctuary of this island can, in my opinion, reduce this activity by 30% to 50% in this area. The experts should, perhaps, look into this problem more appropriately for the securing of maritime links in this area.