Piracy in the Gulf of Aden - a problem of our days

The present paper tries to elaborate on the causes of maritime piracy in the region of Somalia. The authors support the idea that there is no real incentive for the Somali government to contain piracy in the Gulf of Aden, apart from pressures of the international community and the need to improve one??s image therein. However, the efforts to counter piracy attacks must be continued and further enhanced by multinational cooperation due to the importance this region has for the international maritime trade. In recent years, piracy and terrorism on high seas are posing serious threats to international security and economic development. With increasing interdependence, the use of sea route for transportation has become vital. Three main issues arise in relation to this threat: piracy with focus on Somalia and the Gulf of Aden; terrorism impacting trade through Malacca Straits; and policy response of the countries whose trade is adversely affected by sea piracy and terrorism