EU Looks to Expand Scope of Anti-Piracy Mission

According to German officials, the European Union’s anti-piracy naval force, Operation Atalanta, is considering expanding the scope of their mission to the beaches of Somalia, the heart of the pirates’ infrastructure. 

Currently, an EU committee has called for the force’s commander to construct plans to revise the rules of engagement between EU forces and Somali pirates.  German Foreign Minister Spokesman said on Friday that under discussion is the limited destruction of piracy logistics on the beach, but not a full deployment of forces on land. 

Leading the Horn of Africa’s anti-piracy mission to the beaches would allow EU forces to destruct the pirates’ equipment on the beaches of Somalia, instead of just patrolling the seas off the coast, giving the plight a significant edge by destroying weapon arsenals, speed boats, and fuel surpluses integral to the grand scheme of piracy.  This type of stance would presumably use helicopter targeting for the infrastructure alone, and not for firing on persons on land. 

The spokesman stressed that these talks are ongoing and no certain decisions have been made.

According to EUNAVFOR, although attacks off the Horn of Africa have fallen lately, pirates are still holding at least 200 hostages in Somalia or off its coast.