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Bluff and bluster

Pirates in the Horn are stepping up operations and threatening more ships but the international response looks weak and divided

At huge expense, the United Arab Emirates brought scores of countries to Dubai on 18-19 April to craft new policies and raise finance to fight the growing threat from pirates based in Somalia and the wider region. Yet the delegates only managed to raise about US$5 million to tackle piracy which brings in over $200 mn. a year for the criminal gangs involved. Added to this, there are signs that Islamist groups are increasingly using ‘taxes’ on pirates as a means of raising finance for their own military operations....

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Free article preview

Bluff and bluster

Pirates in the Horn are stepping up operations and threatening more ships but the international response looks weak and divided

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