The Somali government has attempted to secure its border and coastline but has struggled immensely with piracy. Authorities in Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland say they are often powerless to confront the pirates. As a state, Somalia has profoundly attempted to resolve the piracy issue as an independent state but has failed.

The issue has grown so much that NATO has become involved, sending in seven frigates to support the US navy vessels that are already there. Admiral Fitzerald said NATO’s mission was mainly to protect ships carrying United Nations (UN) aid to Somalia, where more than three million people are in need of food aid, also expressing hope that NATO vessels would be able to protect other ships. Around 20,000 vessels are said to pass by Somalia each year. Somalia’s economy has also suffered as an estimate of up to thirty million dollars has been spent in response to ransoms this year.