EMEA News
Denmark Launches New Anti-Piracy Strategy
Denmark Thursday unveiled a new strategy to combat piracy in Africa, extending the scope of its current operations, local media reports.
The new strategy, which takes effect this year and runs until 2018, will still see a focus on piracy off Somalia but will also target areas off West Africa where Denmark is said to have maritime interests.
“With this strategy, Denmark will continue to be at the forefront of international efforts to combat piracy,” said Foreign Minister Martin Lidegaard.
“Our activities will continue to focus on the Horn of Africa but as something new we will also carry out a range of activities in the Gulf of Guinea in western Africa where piracy and armed robbery at sea are the source of growing international concern.”
Piracy off the coast of Somalia is said to cost global trade almost $7 billion annually.
“For a maritime nation like Denmark, it is vital that we do what we can to protect shipping and seafarers,” said Lidegaard.
“With the new strategy, we will delivery military contributions, legal actions and capacity-building to our partners in the affected regions.”
In December a Danish court ordered the Danish Navy to pay compensation to suspected bunker pirates after waiting too long to bring them before a judge.
