The Stronghold
East Africa, which includes the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden, and the southern Red Sea, is a critical artery for global trade connecting Europe, Asia, and the Americas. At the same time, maritime transportation in the region is carried out in a complex security landscape and is subject to a range of threats, from resurgent piracy to geopolitical tensions affecting navigation in the Red Sea and illegal fishing.
After the recession in the 2010s, piracy is showing an alarming relapse. According to the UN, the number of such incidents has increased by 40% over the past year. This surge is confirmed by recent trials: in July 2026, an Indian court sentenced 44 Somalis to life in prison for seizing the MV Ruen and Al Kambar vessels in 2024. At the same time, pirates are improving their tactics, which poses a significant threat to shipping and leads to an increase in insurance premiums and operating costs. The economic damage from piracy is estimated at $7-12 billion per year.
The safety of maritime transportation in the region is closely linked to geopolitical conflicts. The attacks by the Yemeni Houthis in the Red Sea have a direct impact on global shipping routes. Such actions have already led to a reduction in traffic through the Suez Canal and forced detours to the Cape of Good Hope, which increases the cost and time of cargo delivery. In response, international military missions have been deployed in the region, including with the participation of the United States and Great Britain.
