Reply #30: It's the original reason the Navy was created.

[HooptieWagon]

And I believe there are already several countries navies also patrolling the area. Ideally, security in the Indian Ocean should be turned over to an alliance of the countries in the region that are able, and have a commercial interest - South Africa, India, Australia, and perhaps China and Saudi Arabia. Until then, I guess the US needs to provide the leadership.