A UN-sponsored anti-piracy effort "would be terrific to the extent that the UN endorsed the kind of operations and facilitated it," US Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Robert F Willard told reporters in New Delhi.

Asked whether he would support the Indian suggestion of a UN-mandated international anti-piracy operation, Admiral Willard, who is in India on a four-day visit beginning January 25, said "I think so....Yes."

Thus far, the Admiral said, the UN had very methodically introduced discussion on how to deal with piracy.

"The resolutions that have been passed were moderated. But that leap (a joint effort under its flag) has not been taken by the UN yet," he said.

Pointing out that the UN was likely to get "more and more responsive" in the future, Willard, who commands the world's largest navy fleet, said it would happen if the international community continued its demand for action against the pirates.

Noting that piracy was a complex problem and the UN was right now grappling with the issue of how to handle it, Willard said there have already been organised efforts to coordinate international endeavours to fight the menace.

Willard also said the recent Mumbai terror attacks have thrown up opportunities for Indo-US naval cooperation on maritime security and information sharing under a bilateral agreement. Noting that piracy was a complex problem and the UN was right now grappling with the issue of how to handle it, Willard said there have already been organised efforts to coordinate international endeavours to fight the menace.

"There is territorial waters to be contended with and the merchant traffic in international waters. Somalia is a relatively ungoverned state and the Horn of Africa is a very difficult location for this to be occurring. The UN is now discussing resolutions that will authorise how to tackle the issues," he said.

To a query on the Chinese sending their warships to the region, the US Admiral said the ships had transited through the Arabian Sea to the Gulf of Aden and was currently operating a three-ship task force for anti-piracy operations.

"We endorse that (Chinese anti-piracy efforts), as should India. There is an international effort to try and grapple with the issue of pirates in the Somali region and the Horn of Africa.

"And when China chose to engage in that activity, they did so alongside many other navies including the Russians, Koreans, Japanese navies, and certainly the Indian Navy and the other bulk of navies in the region," he said.