Something I find phenomenally interesting is the “Freakanomics“, if you will, of international security relations. Two examples of this is how perceivably bad situations can inherently develop positive outcomes. The first example of this is the littoral communities of Somalia that benefited from piracy (specifically during its hey-day from 2007-2010). I drafted a write up a few years back of how the littoral communities with infused cash began rather positive urban development using the cash they extorted from their hostage-taking. This of course lends itself to the theory that economic development stems violence & crime – and piracy in the long run. This is an entire other topic though somewhat tied to the fact that Somali Piracy in and around the Gulf of Aden has essentially created a situation where international Naval powers have been forced (at times in  consensus, at times in coincidence) to execute effectively joint counter-piracy sea operations in the region.

Iran, yesterday or so, rescued more pirate victims – this time the victims were Yemeni. I love seeing this. it is a sign of what I view the future of International Security to be. For Iran, this is not the first time either. Here we see one example of Iran’s efforts back in 2012, and again Iran’s interdiction of a hijacking and detention of a senior Piracy King. As Wired Magazine points out in their article: “This isn’t the first time Iranian mariners have concerned themselves with pirates. As the pirates have moved aggressively into the northern Indian Ocean, Iran’s navy has stepped up patrols and maritime surveillance, even joining in international counter-piracy patrols.”

Ergo, this is the irony of International Security Dynamics; as Wired continues: “Piracy may be unique in international affairs for its ability to bring enemies together. Pakistan has saved Indian sailors from Somali pirates. China and Taiwan, same thing. The U.S. Navy saved Iranian sailors practically every weekend in January. Cats and dogs living together, mass hysteria, etc.”

In a way, to illustrate this with the arguably most extreme of terms, it is two potential foes conducting joint combat operations together to protect globalization. Despite the Information Operations between the two countries, and often perceived disdain, there is much positive outcome from it. The end game result ultimately has shown it’s capacity for solution production.