Ending Somalian piracy: pitfalls and possibilities of Australian naval intervention and long-term human security policy initiatives

Carolin Liss of Murdoch University discusses “the possible benefits and disadvantages of Australian participation in an international, UN approved, anti-piracy task-force operating in the Gulf of Aden and off the Horn of Africa. In themselves, Liss notes, “the patrols of pirate-infested waters are of limited use because they will only foil individual attacks, and only within the area covered by patrol vessels.”

As a result, “countries such as Australia, Japan and South Korea that consider sending warships to Somalia therefore have to understand that deploying warships could be a long-term commitment that may make little difference -- particularly in regard to human security -- if the political and humanitarian situation in Somalia is not addressed.”