Has the recent large-scale piracy off the coast of Somalia finally come to an end? The world has responded to the piracy threat in the region with several maritime large-scale anti-piracy operations designed to protect shipping vessels and to deter and arrest pirates. Even though these actions may have contributed to the decline in piracy, there is doubt whether this is a long-term solution, as it fails to address the underlying causes of piracy that is often found ashore. By using theory-developing and theory-consuming strategies this essay has developed a theoretical framework, devised to combat piracy, from factors considered to trigger piracy and theories regarding counterinsurgency. The framework is then used to examine whether the international community's collective contribution in the country contributes to a long-term solution of Somali piracy. The results portray an identification of several measures that have taken place ashore, which initially do not aim to combat piracy, but are considered to contribute to both reducing piracy and to be a more long-term solution to the problem. But even if these measures contribute to a long-term solution, it is difficult to say if they are sufficient enough for Somali piracy to cease completely.

Piracy has been a constant threat to global merchant shipping for centuries. Still, the debate concerning the level of efficiency regarding counter piracy theories hold, is ongoing. This indicates a lack of reliable measures on how to counter the phenomenon. By comparing two cases, this study examines five different measures that are considered to be efficient ways of countering piracy. The aim of this approach is to initially explore which measures that can be considered successful, and to provide a deeper understanding as to how they could be applied. The result shows that four out of five measures shown in the Gulf of Aden and the Strait of Malacca case study namely; the presence of cooperating military units, cooperation between different actors, influence the pirates use of ports and bases and safety and security for merchant shipping. The fifth measure, ability to provide, has not been covered in any of the cases. The result highlighted the disparity between the Gulf of Aden and the Strait of Malacca. In conclusion the significance of the presence of cooperating military units and its impact on the participating naval forces was identified.

Since 2008 the EU has, through Operation Atalanta, supported the UN in protecting humanitarian trans- ports off the Somali coast. This thesis examines if Operation Atalanta has also contributed to the de- creased pirate activity, which is evaluated by applying counterinsurgency theories to the operation. Can theories on counterinsurgency explain the success of Operation Atalanta in reduced piracy? A theoretical framework has been developed based on factors believed to trigger piracy and discourage insurgence. This has been applied to the operation to test if its actions can be related or linked to coun- terinsurgency. The result shows that the operation’s activities can be connected to counterinsurgency and is therefore believed to have contributed to the decrease in pirate activity.

This thesis studies the counterpiracy in the Gulf of Aden. Pirates has made the international community deploy military forces to police the Gulf of Aden. However most of the systems usedare not designed for counterpiracy. Many are remnants from the cold war. Also downsizing of military forces in the West has resulted in the need to prioritize resources. The purpose of this thesis is to analyze five systems fighting pirates in the Gulf of Aden using Andersson et al. (2015)´s theory of military utility. The five systems are: light utility helicopter, medium utility helicopter, reconnaissance aircraft, combat boat and drone on tasks of detect, disrupt and deter. With the analysis the thesis discuss how the Swedish Armed Forces can use available recourses more efficiently as possible to aid in producing a greater operative effect on the national and international arena. The conclusions show that all systems have the potential to contribute to counterpiracy. Reconnaissance aircraft and drones are suitable to detect pirates. Light utility helicopters are able to detect and disrupt and partially deter. The combat boats are suitable to disrupt and deter. The medium utility helicopters are suitable for all three tasks. The thesis concludes with discussing the importance of the subsystems carried and its effects on a system´s military utility. / Den här rapporten undersöker piratbekämpningen i Adenviken. Piraterna har gjort att världssamfundet skickat militära styrkor för att patrullera Adenviken. De flesta system som används för piratbekämpningen är däremot inte designade för det ändamålet. Många är kvarlevor från det kalla kriget. Samtidigt som en minskning av de militära styrkorna har lett till behovet att bättre prioritera tillgängliga resurser. Syftet med den här rapporten är att analysera fem system som bekämpar pirater i Adenviken genom att använda Andersson et al. (2015)´s teori om militär nytta. De fem systemen är: Lätt helikopter, medeltung helikopter, spaningsflygplan, stridsbåt och drönare. Uppgifterna de ställs mot är: att upptäcka, avbryta samt avskräcka. För att med den analysen diskutera hur Försvarsmakten kan använda tillgängliga resurser effektivare och skapa operativ effekt, nationellt såväl som internationellt. Slutsatserna visar att alla system har potential att bidra till piratbekämpningen. Spaningsflygplan och drönare är lämpliga för att upptäcka pirater. Lätt helikopter är lämplig för att upptäcka och avbryta samt delvis avskräcka. Stridsbåten är lämplig för att avbryta och avskräcka. Medeltung helikopter är lämplig för alla tre uppgifter. Rapporten har diskuterat den betydelse som subsystemen har för systemens militära nytta.