By William Tucker
Somali pirates have managed to strike as far away as India according to recent reports. While the range has increased what has garnered attention is the shift in tactics resulting from pressure from the international naval forces off Somalia’s coast. The pirates would often seize a ship and hold it for a quick ransom, but now the pirates are using the larger ships they seize as a mother-ship for extending operations. The international naval force conducting counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia have had difficulty keeping pace with pirate activity and the change in tactics along with an extended range is likely to increase the pressure on the participating navies. As the pirate tactics continue to evolve and the cost to international shipping keeps rising the international community may be forced to take the fight to piracy where it is most vulnerable – on land. Most nations are hesitant to become involved in the mess that is Somalia, but denying port access and targeting land based benefactors is the most advantageous method of fighting piracy.
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