ReCAAP is 10 years old

As ReCAAP marks its 10th anniversary, a look back at the achievements.

10 Years of Fighting Pirates in Asia

By Prakash Panneerselvam

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) Information Sharing Center (ISC) in Singapore. In those ten years, ReCAAP ISC has grown into a true multilateral organization comprising 20 nations across globe working toward the safety and security of the maritime commons. Information sharing and confidence building measures between law enforcement agencies have made a tangible contribution to anti-piracy efforts; ReCAAP ISC has achieved a great deal in reversing the rising trend in piracy incidents in the region.

ReCAAP ISC came into existence due to increased incidents of piracy, armed robbery, and hijacking of ships in Southeast Asian waterways. Launched in November 2006, ReCAAP ISC was officially recognized as an international organization in January 2007. At that time, it was a major diplomatic challenge for Southeast Asian countries and extra-regional powers to establish a multilateral forum primarily to share information related to piracy incidents in the region. ReCAAP ISC’s adherence to jurisdictional rights exercised by the littoral states adds value to anti-piracy efforts, and makes operations transparent to all ReCAAP signatories.

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Source: thediplomat.com