EU naval force battles resurgent piracy amidst regional instability

“Fuego!” a petty officer commanded during a recent drill, as soldiers practiced firing at simulated targets. The resurgence of piracy is linked to instability stemming from conflicts in Yemen, the Horn of Africa, and Iran, impacting vital shipping lanes.

“Instability causes instability. Instability causes illegal activities. Illegal activities cause clans to go to the sea,” explained Vice Adm. Ignacio Villanueva, commander of the EU’s Operation Atalanta. Atalanta patrols the western Indian Ocean, safeguarding a waterway that handles approximately 12% of global trade, including a quarter of all container traffic between Asia and Europe.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, fiercely contested by Saudi-backed government forces and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, has become a key alternative route for oil exports due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

The ESPS Santa Maria, a 40-year-old Spanish frigate, leads the Atalanta mission. It carries a crew of over 200 and is equipped with heavy artillery, torpedoes, and missiles. A helicopter and drone provide aerial surveillance.

“If it is in danger, if it is threatened, you are not going to have what you need. The prices are going to rise, and our life is going to be much worse,” stated Cmdr. Fernando María Zumalacarregui Alario, commanding officer of the Santa Maria.

Since Houthi attacks began in November 2023, 79 pirate attacks have occurred in the region, with roughly 30 following the outbreak of the Iran war in February, according to Portuguese Commodore José Rodrigues Pedra, commander of the Atalanta mission.

A surveillance plane operating from a French military base in Djibouti, alongside partner military deployments from the United States, South Korea, Japan, India, and regional powers, gathers intelligence.

Somali piracy has reemerged after years of decline, fueled by economic hardship, malnutrition, political deadlock, and civil unrest. The U.N. reports that approximately 30% of the population faces critical levels of food insecurity. Pirates have targeted fuel tankers and even seized a Turkish ship carrying weapons.

The Associated Press has documented six commercial vessels hijacked between April and August of this year. Five were released, but the MT Asana, a Tanzanian-flagged tanker seized in July, remains under pirate control, holding 22 seafarers captive as of October 16.

Tragically, five crew members died during a September operation to recover the tanker Honour 25, which had been held since April. Indian forces recently freed an Iranian fishing vessel after a 48-hour operation.

Jakob Larsen, safety and security chief for BIMCO, notes that the conditions for piracy have always existed. Rising fuel prices, exacerbated by the Iran war, may be driving individuals to piracy. Christopher Hockey, a fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, suggests that piracy benefits both Iran and the Houthis by disrupting maritime traffic. He warned that some vessels may forgo security teams, increasing their vulnerability to attack.