WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Friday warned that the United States will take “decisive military action” against Somali pirate groups, signaling a tougher posture that could allow U.S. forces to target suspected pirates even if they have not attacked American vessels.
Trump said U.S. forces would strike any individual or boat that moves toward a ship, regardless of ownership or flag. “Anyone who tries to move toward a vessel will meet the ultimate punishment,” he said, according to remarks reported by U.S. media.
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The president added that Somali pirates have been placed on a list similar to those used to target international drug traffickers and would face missile strikes like those used against narcotics-smuggling vessels. “They know what’s coming,” he said.
The threat marks a notable shift in rhetoric at a time when piracy off Somalia has fallen to its lowest levels in decades, a decline widely attributed to international naval patrols and improved regional security efforts along key maritime routes in the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean.
Analysts said Trump’s comments suggest a potentially aggressive new approach that raises legal and practical questions under international maritime law. Long-standing rules of engagement at sea typically require clear identification of hostile intent or hostile acts; how U.S. forces would determine and document intent before striking “any individual or boat that moves toward a ship” was not immediately clear.
Pentagon officials did not immediately comment on whether new authorizations for the use of force had been issued or whether operational guidance to the U.S. Navy and allied partners would change. It was also unclear how the policy would apply in crowded sea lanes where commercial traffic, coast guard patrols, and fishing vessels routinely maneuver near larger ships.
Trump’s reference to a designation “similar to” lists used against international drug traffickers points to a model in which the United States targets networks and assets linked to criminal activity beyond its borders. The president’s suggestion of using missile strikes “like those used against narcotics-smuggling vessels” indicates a willingness to carry out preemptive actions at sea — a stance that, if implemented, could test coordination with allied navies and regional authorities.
Maritime security experts say any expanded targeting criteria would have to balance deterrence with safeguards against misidentification, especially in waters where small craft are common and legitimate operators may approach ships for commercial or safety reasons. The administration did not detail how it would distinguish between lawful maritime activity and piracy in real time.
The United States has participated for years in multinational efforts to secure vital shipping corridors near the Horn of Africa, working alongside European, regional and private-sector partners to deter hijackings, share intelligence and bolster local capacity. Those efforts, combined with improved on-board protections by commercial shippers, have coincided with a sustained drop in successful pirate attacks.
Trump’s remarks, however, indicate a possible move toward unilateral strikes against suspected pirates, even absent an attack on U.S. vessels — a posture that could alter risk calculations for both pirates and legitimate mariners. As of Friday, the administration had not released further details on rules of engagement, evidentiary thresholds, or the scope of any new designations.
U.S. officials did not provide a timeline for additional guidance.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
