The problem is not an inability of the world’s navies to handle these pirates.
It’s an unwillingness to do it. Don’t want to look bad on TV blowing up little brown brother’s boat.
Also a determination that the only way to handle this is as a criminal matter, complete with civil rights, attorneys, standards of evidence, etc.
The more traditional approach is that pirates are by definition at war with the rest of the world, and their attacks and retaliation against those supporting them can be handled by the laws of war. During the 19th century slavers were put into the same category, which I think is perfectly appropriate. I suggest adding terrorists to the list and we’re good to go.
“The problem is not an inability of the world’s navies to handle these pirates...It’s an unwillingness to do it. Don’t want to look bad on TV blowing up little brown brother’s boat.”
It’s both - you need the hardware to deploy, and then you need the will to use it. So you are right, having the navies from the 1980s would not help a bit right now with the problem - but at least the capability would be there if the right political leadership was elected (I know, fat chance).