Piracy off the coast of Somalia is not the romantic endeavor of film and fiction but a real and serious threat to international security and the global economy. Over the past half-decade, Somali piracy has evolved into a sophisticated criminal enterprise impacting the entire Indian Ocean region. In response, an unprecedented international effort was initiated to address this growing transnational threat. These efforts are now having an impact, as the number of successful of pirate attacks were cut in half in 2011.
Please join the Center for American Progress for a keynote address by Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Andrew Shapiro, the State Department’s point person for counterpiracy. He will deliver remarks outlining both the tangible progress the Obama administration has made in concert with our allies and the private sector, as well as the challenges that remain in tackling the scourge of modern piracy.
Welcoming remarks:
Neera Tanden, President, Center for American Progress
Featured speaker:
Andrew Shapiro, Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, Department of State
Moderator:
Rudy deLeon, Senior Vice President for National Security, Center for American Progress