Pirates are paid by Indians. They distinguished themselves in freeing the Ruen ship, say experts

For Somali pirates, the December seizure of the MV Ruen, a Bulgarian cargo ship flying the Maltese flag, was the first successful attempt to hijack a vessel off Africa since 2017.

The owner of the ship immediately tried to start negotiations for the release of the crew, but to no avail. According to CNN, the standoff lasted until last week, when the pirates in control of the cargo ship went out into the high seas to look for more loot and were approaching India.

The Indian Navy then intervened in the matter. His command sent the destroyer INS Calcutta and a helicopter patrol ship to the operation, which supported drones from the air and sea, a Boeing P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft and a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III transport.

India has sent destroyers to the Arabian Sea

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It all culminated in a commando landing on a captured vessel after the pirates destroyed one drone and shelled a destroyer. Members of the Indian forces, who jumped onto the ship with parachutes, were rescued from the sea by the Indian marines on special rafts.

“Indian units have been particularly impressive because of their ability to minimize the risks associated with such operations by flawlessly coordinating all the units and resources involved,” said John Bradford, a member of the US Council on Foreign Relations and International Affairs (CFRIA), according to CNN.

“The Indians have shown themselves to be a first class strike force,” he added.

Photo: Spokespersonnavy Via X, Reuters

Indian commando evacuates the crew members of the hijacked ship MV Ruen.

According to analyst Carl Schuster, a former US Navy captain, India’s naval commando known as MARCOS has proven to be “the best in the business”.

“Their members undergo an eight-month training modeled after the British SAS special forces. Despite very strict selection procedures, no more than 15 percent of those who apply complete the training,” he said.

According to CNN, the Indian Navy has extensive experience in anti-piracy operations, having been involved for more than 20 years.

The security situation in Red Sea shipping lanes threatened by Iran-backed Yemeni Shiite rebels, the Houthis, will likely require a re-engagement in the protection of cargo vessels, Schuster noted.