U.S. Department of State

Threat to Maritime Commerce, Humanitarian Assistance, Disaster Relief, and Regional Security and Development.
Pirate attacks off the Horn of Africa represent a serious threat to a range of American and international interests. Learn more.

United States Response.
The United States Government's coordinated inter-agency efforts are consistent with our traditional interest in ensuring freedom of navigation, safety of mariners, and protection of American citizens. Learn more.

International Response.
On January 14, 2009, a community of like-minded nations and international organizations convened in New York to launch a coordinated effort to halt pirate attacks that emanated from Somali waters. This initiative was called the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia. This website serves as a repository for the Contact Group’s communiqués and other significant announcements.

The diplomatic, official coordination, and information-sharing efforts of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia, are complemented by these international counter-piracy forces, which provide naval and aerial forces to protect shipping that transits this region:

• EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta;
• Combined Maritime Forces Combined Task Force 151;
• NATO Operation Ocean Shield; 
• National Counter-Piracy Missions (China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Yemen).