The Strait of Malacca Formula: Success in Counter-Piracy and Its Applicability to the Gulf of Aden

Piracy is increasing at an alarming rate in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast. Piracy in the Strait of Malacca region once ran rampant, but has steadily declined since 2003. It seems useful to apply the counter-piracy tactics used in this region to the Gulf of Aden area to attempt a decline in pirate attacks. An attempt to apply the counter-piracy tactics used in the Malacca region to the Gulf of Aden region will fail. The Strait of Malacca littoral states all have well-functioning, established governments which give them the ability to apply the rest of their counter-piracy "formula" of state-sponsored naval forces, regional intelligence sharing, surface surveillance radars, a court system and fighting the origins of piracy on land. The governments in the Gulf of Aden region are too preoccupied with political or economic strife to deal with counter-piracy. Until governmental stability is achieved, few counter-piracy tactics will prevail. Foreign forces have come to the aid of the region. These forces are enforcing the applications of the formula to compensate for the inability of the weaker governments to do so. This is the short-term solution until governmental stability is achieved in the region, giving the indigenous states the ability to police their own waters and enforce their own laws. Recommendations include U.N. Security Council Resolutions or agreements with littoral states to pursue pirates in their territorial waters or in the pirate havens ashore, and coordinated planning between USAFRICOM and USCENTCOM for combining the land and sea counter-piracy tactics.

A paper submitted to the Faculty of the Naval War College in partial satisfaction of the requirements of the Department of Joint Military Operations.