Al-Nahar | Pirates in the Gulf of Aden are back... Why has hijacking ships become easier?

Illustrative image of an anti-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden. Image: Indian Navy / Government of India, licensed under the Government Open Data License – India (GODL), via Wikimedia Commons.

Risk Intelligence CEO Hans Tino Hansen shared his insights with Al-Nahar on the factors shaping the current piracy threat in the Gulf of Aden.

Published on 28 August 2026, the article looks at the resurgence of Somali piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the changing maritime security environment in the region.

Hansen framed the piracy threat in terms of three factors: capability, opportunity and intent. He noted that the capability to carry out attacks remains, as piracy operations require relatively limited resources, including personnel, boats, supplies, navigation equipment, communications and weapons.

Hansen highlighted that the opportunity for attacks has expanded. As piracy incidents declined, some shipping companies relaxed their security procedures, while some routes moved closer to the Somali coast to reduce transit times. He also pointed to a reduced international naval deployment dedicated to counter-piracy, with warships reassigned to other missions in the region.

Read the full article in Arabic on Al-Nahar.

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