Geopolitical conflicts
Increasingly, political tensions are having an impact on important international sea routes, from the South China Sea to the Taiwan Strait and the waters around the Black and Red Seas, disrupting global sea trade. This puts German merchant ships at a considerable risk of attacks while potentially blocking important trade routes for German imports and exports.
Since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza conflict in October 2023, Houthi terrorists have attacked hundreds of merchant ships in international waters near Yemen using rockets, drones and cruise missiles. Several seafarers have been killed and numerous ships hijacked, sunk or severely damaged. The security situation for shipping traffic is similarly unstable in other regions, especially around the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf, shipping lanes for around a third of the world’s crude oil.
Piracy remains a serious security challenge for international shipping
Merchant ships travelling in regions with high pirate activity are particularly at risk. These include the Gulf of Guinea (West Africa) and the Strait of Malacca (South East Asia). Pirates frequently attack ships with speedboats, are often armed and do not hesitate to kidnap crews to extort ransom money. The theft of cargo or fuel is also widespread.
The consequences are serious: human lives are put at risk, and high economic costs are incurred due to ransom payments, rising insurance premiums or long detours. In addition, international trade is severely disrupted. For these reasons, many shipping companies have taken protective measures. These include carrying armed security forces on board, being escorted by warships, using early warning systems, or performing special evasion manoeuvres. International military missions are making a significant contribution to the fight against modern piracy. For example, the EU-led operation EU NAVFOR Atalanta has been able to curb piracy in the Gulf of Aden (Somalia) since 2008. Despite some progress, piracy remains a global security problem, fuelled by poverty, political instability and a lack of government control in the pirates’ regions of origin.
Security operations
The European Union is involved in various security missions to protect civilian shipping. One of the most important missions is EU NAVFOR – Operation Atalanta, which has been active in the Indian Ocean and near the Horn of Africa since 2008. Its aim is to protect merchant ships – in particular aid shipments under the World Food Programme – against pirate attacks. The EU relies on a combination of naval operations, aerial surveillance and international cooperation. Warships accompany freighters, monitor sea routes and intervene in the event of a threat.
Operation Atalanta works closely with the EU mission ASPIDES, which was launched in 2024 to protect merchant ships against attacks by Houthi terrorists in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The aim is to ensure the safe passage of cargo ships, protect crews and prevent disruption of global supply chains.
In the Gulf of Guinea, where modern piracy is part of everyday life, the EU is supporting the security measures of the West African coastal states. The aim is to ensure stable and secure sea routes in the region for the long term. EMASoH (European Maritime Awareness in the Strait of Hormuz) is a European maritime security mission in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes. It was launched at the beginning of 2020 after repeated political tensions and incidents as well as attacks on merchant ships in the region. The aim of the mission is to ensure freedom of navigation, monitor the situation at sea and promote de-escalation in the region. EMASoH is a civilian and military observation mission that does not intervene offensively.
Maritime security strategy
A maritime security strategy is important because a large portion of global trade occurs by sea. Piracy, terrorism and political conflicts can jeopardise these routes, threatening human lives, the world economy, and supply chains. A maritime security strategy helps detect risks at an early stage, protect ships, and strengthen international cooperation. The EU Maritime Security Strategy (EUMSS) serves to protect Europe’s maritime interests. In addition, VDR supports a National Maritime Security Strategy and the establishment of a National Security Council. The aim is to promote cooperation between civilian and military players, protect sea routes, ports and infrastructure, and respond appropriately to a wide range of threats. This will strengthen security on the seas and ensure free and secure global trade.
