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The United States has adopted a multilateral approach to
deal with the "significant and urgent" problem of maritime
piracy, a growing challenge with global implications, says
Assistant Secretary of State Andrew Shapiro.
"We live in an era of complex and integrated global supply
chains where people in countries around the world depend on
safe and reliable shipping lanes for their food, their
energy, their medicine and basic consumer goods. By
threatening one of the world's busiest shipping lanes,
piracy off the Horn of Africa threatens not just specific
ships, but has broader strategic implications," Shapiro said
March 30 in remarks in Washington at the International
Institute for Strategic Studies.
Maritime piracy costs the global economy between $7 billion
and $12 billion annually, according to a December 2010
report from the U.S.-based One Earth Future Foundation. The
group totaled the estimated costs of paying ransoms with the
increased costs of insurance premiums, re-routing ships,
security equipment, naval forces to combat piracy,
prosecutions of pirates, piracy-deterrent organizations and
the impacts on regional economies.
Shapiro, who is the State Department's assistant secretary
for political-military affairs, said that since January 2010
pirates working from ports in Somalia have received
approximately $75 million to $85 million in ransom payments.
He stressed that the international community must find a way
"to shut down this ballooning criminal enterprise that makes
piracy an increasingly lucrative profession, especially for
the impoverished Horn of Africa."
According to a United Nations report released in January,
Somalia's "piracy-driven economy is gradually overtaking the
traditional economy, owing to the development of activities
on land in support of the pirates, the lack of job-creating
investments in a context of widespread insecurity and the
destructive effect of piracy on Somali society."
Shapiro called the state failure in Somalia "the root cause
of piracy," and emphasized the problem cannot be resolved
exclusively through naval patrols and interdictions.
"There will be no end to piracy at sea until there is both
political reconciliation and economic recovery on the ground
in Somalia and a local government capable of and willing to
enforce law and order on land and offshore. Achieving
stability and good governance in Somalia represents the only
sustainable long-term solution to piracy," he said.
The United States is working with others in the
international community to help build governance, security
and economic livelihoods throughout Somalia.
However, Shapiro added, addressing "the challenge of the
situation ashore does not preclude progress at sea." The
international community "can make advances in combating
piracy, irrespective of the situation in Somalia."
Shapiro outlined several approaches the United States has
identified to combat piracy in the near term.
"These center on four key areas: pursuing additional
mechanisms to prosecute and incarcerate pirates;
aggressively targeting those who organize, lead and profit
from piracy operations; exploring expanded military options
that will not place undue risks or burdens on our armed
forces; and intensifying efforts to encourage the shipping
industry to employ best-management practices," he said.
Shapiro emphasized the importance of implementing these
anti-piracy measures immediately, as he said the problem is
rapidly growing worse.
"Last year, 2010, witnessed the highest number of successful
pirate attacks and hostages taken on record. And thus far,
2011 is on track to be even higher," he said. Nearly 600
mariners from around the world are being held hostage, some
for as long as six months.
While much work remains in the coming months and years,
Shapiro expressed confidence that through the shared
commitment of the United States and the international
community, "the challenge of modern-day piracy is one that
we will surely meet.".
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