A cooperação OTAN - União Europeia no combate a pirataria no Golfo de Áden e na Costa da Somália entre 2008 e 2016

Abstract

Piracy off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden resurged with alarming intensity at the beginning of the 21st century, posing a significant threat to global maritime security and international trade. Fueled by Somalia's political and economic instability, this phenomenon endangered one of the world's most important maritime routes, through which substantial amounts of global trade and oil transit. The growing threat of Somali piracy catalyzed an unprecedented mobilization of international resources, with various nations and organizations joining forces to protect vital trade routes. The anti-piracy operations led by NATO and the European Union (EU) in the Gulf of Aden, such as Operation Atalanta and Operation Ocean Shield, stand out as remarkable examples of how naval power can be employed in limited use of force activities to confront this threat. This dissertation, focused on the period between 2008 and 2016, explores how the cooperation between NATO and the EU was structured and implemented. To this end, we employ the scientific methodology of describing the phenomenon to examine the nature of piracy in the region, the cooperation strategies developed by the two organizations, and the impacts of these operations. The research is based on an analysis of official documents, mission reports, and related academic literature, aiming to describe the nuances of NATO-EU cooperation in the context of combating piracy. In a world where security threats are increasingly complex and transnational, understanding the synergies and challenges of the international cooperation addressed becomes essential for planning and executing effective security strategies.