Naval Diplomacy and Maritime Security in the Western Indian Ocean

Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson is Commanding Officer, Region Legal Service Office Naval District Washington and previously served as an oceans policy adviser in the Pentagon. read more

Maritime violence off the Horn of Africa has generated immense global attention. Ships carrying cargo that included oil, military weapons, and chemicals have been attacked. More than 20,000 vessels ply this strategically important area that includes the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the western Indian Ocean every year. To confront the threat of Somali piracy, a combination of national commitment, naval force, and international action has emerged, presaging greater partnering, utilization of the rule of law to address regional instability at sea, ‘out-of-area’ employment of naval forces, and the integration of international organizations to facilitate repression of maritime piracy.