Topic: International Cooperation in Combatting Piracy
Country: Colombia
Delegate Name: Shania Mason
School: Mattawan High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Colombia position papers GLIMUN 2015 committees
The world’s shared oceans provide means for communication, travel, and commerce but also for piracy- boarding a vessel with violent intent often directed towards thievery. Piracy threatens those aboard the vessels while also disrupting sea trade and transportation and negatively affecting the victim nation’s economy as a whole. Unfortunately, there is no simple solution to dealing with international piracy. With national sovereignty and the global economy in mind, many questions are raised.
Colombia, bordering the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, is greatly affected by the issue of piracy. The Caribbean Sea is crawling with pirates and the United States Coast Guard, graciously, keeps these waters well patrolled; however, Colombia and other Latin American countries are still at risk of their vessels being overtaken. Colombia faces serious issues with piracy due to the organized crime rings and drug smugglers, both of which regularly take their terrorism to the seas. In an effort to contribute to keeping the oceans clear, Colombia is a part of the Law of the Sea as well as several other alliances including Plan Colombia with the United States and the Union of South American Nations.
As far as seeking solutions to international piracy, Colombia hopes to work with the nations included in the Union of South American Nations, the United States, and any other nations affected by piracy the same way Colombia is. It is understood that determining as a committee whether or not to interfere-and to what extent-with maritime terrorism is a very controversial issue involving topics like national sovereignty and finance. Colombia feels that forming a union of nations affected by piracy may be beneficial especially if they are willing to set aside national sovereignty to collaborate defensive strategies. Thus, if nations are not willing to give up sovereignty, they are free to keep out of the union and deal with piracy with their preferred method. Nations not directly affected by piracy but willing to ally can also join the union and provide, if willing, financial and militaristic aid.
