Breakfast Briefing with Jessica Larsen
Law and politics. Was the Danish counter-piracy operation in the Gulf of Guinea fit for purpose?
CANCELLED
Abstract:
The Danish frigate Esbern Snare is returning from the Gulf of Guinea in the spring of 2022, where it has been conducting counter-piracy operations for five months. Only two weeks into the operation, Esbern Snare encountered a suspicious vessel. It resulted in five dead, one injured, four detained – and a prolonged negotiation to find a courtroom to prosecute the suspects. The incident went around the world and showed with all clarity that law and politics are intertwined: the question was not who had jurisdiction but who was able – and willing – to exercise it. What can we learn from this incident, what happened with the court case, and is Danish counter-piracy fit for purpose?
About the speaker:
Jessica Larsen is an anthropologist, PhD, working at the Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS). She specialises in maritime security. Since writing her PhD on international counter-piracy off the coast of Somalia, her research has revolved around international efforts to create maritime security in hotspots around the world, examining both how law is translated into practice and the politics of international cooperation. She conducts policy analysis for the Danish Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs on maritime security and Danish foreign and security policy.