Another Challenge for the Administration: Piracy in the Gulf of Aden

Morgan Lorraine Roach / February 23, 2011

With chaos erupting in North Africa and the Middle East, it’s easy to forget the many challenges the U.S. faces in the region. On Monday, Somali pirates seized an American yacht off the Horn of Africa. The next day all four Americans onboard were murdered by their captors.

Piracy is one of the most common and most complicated issues for the international community. According to The Heritage Foundation’s Maritime Security report, each year, 21,000 commercial ships sail through the Gulf of Aden and Suez Canal, transporting over 10 percent of the global oil supply and 7 percent of the world’s maritime commerce. Somali pirates exploit their geographic position to make easy money. This year alone, there have been 50 recorded incidents off the Horn of Africa, which totals 75 percent of the world’s pirate attacks. (more…)