Gulf of Aden

There is always something quite special in the feeling an outside observer gets when visiting a unit of the Hellenic Navy, even if it is not on a mission at sea. The first striking impression is that of a very closely knit community of men and women in blue uniforms; even when they're joking with each other, their demeanor emanates respect, camaraderie and support.

The prospect of a further deterioration of the situation in the Middle East, as well as the unforeseen direction that the Russian-Ukrainian war has taken, has generated concern in Athens, which is closely monitoring developments but, of course, unable to have a meaningful impact. 

Five Bulgarian sailors who were part of the crew aboard the hijacked ship "Ruen" have safely returned to Varna. The vessel, owned by Bulgaria and flying the Maltese flag, fell victim to piracy off the coast of Somalia last December. The Bulgarian Navy confirmed the sailors' safe arrival, marking a significant moment of relief for their families and the maritime community.

India has announced plans to arrest and charge the 35 Somali pirates apprehended by its navy during the hijacking of the Malta-flagged vessel "Ruen" off the coast of Somalia. This decision marks a departure from previous practices, where disarmed pirates were typically left at sea after ship rescues.

Amidst the tumult of maritime piracy, Bulgaria has expressed profound gratitude to India for the swift and successful rescue of the merchant ship "Ruen" and its crew from the clutches of Somali pirates. The ship, including seven Bulgarian citizens among its crew, faced imminent danger until the timely intervention of the Indian Navy secured their safe return.

At an extraordinary briefing held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, outgoing Deputy Prime Minister Mariya Gabriel announced that all sailors aboard the hijacked Bulgarian cargo ship "Ruen" are in good health and currently aboard an Indian warship.

The Greek-owned cargo ship True Confidence was hit by a missile about 50 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni port of Aden on Wednesday in an attack presumed to come from Houthi forces, the ship's owner and operator said.

A cargo ship bound for the Bulgarian port city of Varna faced an assault by Houthi militants while navigating the Bab el Mandeb Strait.

The vessel, flying the Belize flag, was en route from the United Arab Emirates to its destination in Bulgaria when the attack occurred. The Bab el Mandeb Strait serves as a crucial maritime passageway, connecting the Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea.

The Resurgence of Piracy in the Indian Ocean and the High-Stakes MV RUEN Case

U.S. forces struck an anti-ship missile in Huthi-held Yemen that they said was ready to fire early Saturday, hours after the Iran-backed rebels caused a fire on a British tanker in the Gulf of Aden with a similar munition.