Monthly Intelligence Report July 2026

This month’s issue of the Monthly Intelligence Report covers incidents that took place between June 1 - 30, 2026, in three focus regions:

• West Africa

• Western Indian Ocean (including the Persian Gulf)

• South East Asia

Focus topic: A resurgence of Somalia-based piracy?

This month, we are taking a look at the impact of Somalia-based pirate groups on merchant ships in the western Indian Ocean. Between April and June, there was a notable increase in piracy-related incidents, particularly off the coast of Puntland and in the Gulf of Aden. So far, three merchant ships have been hijacked. It appears that the possibility for a large payout is sufficient to lure investors into funding pirate groups – our focus article explains the background and the current situation in detail.

In addition, the report provides a brief update on the maritime implications of the war in Ukraine.

This month's risk and threat assessment

In the report's assessment, the main incidents are put into a broader context to highlight current threat levels and potential changes for maritime operations. Moreover, the report includes forecasts that cover the main concerns in the coming weeks.