Iran is forced to reckon with the demise of its main proxy and deterrent, the Lebanese Hezbollah. Much attention is now being paid to its nuclear programme, with many increasingly convinced that only a nuclear shield can protect the country from foreign attacks.

Iran is in a precarious position. Its most powerful proxy, the Lebanese Hezbollah has been maimed by Israeli campaigns and has failed to deter Israeli military operations in Lebanon and against Iran itself.

With one month left of the navigation season, Russian crude oil shipments to China via the Northern Sea Route have broken last year’s record. This marks a development in the two countries’ cooperation that will be followed closely by the other Arctic states.    

The Russian export of crude oil to China via the Northern Sea Route (NSR) keeps developing.

Venezuela’s claims over territory in Guyana remain a potential threat to security in the region. Although the area has seen a sharp decrease of maritime activity, it remains a crucial corridor for the transportation of containers, oil and gas exports, and the operation of offshore rigs.

In late 2023, tensions soared between Guyana and Venezuela after the latter held a national referendum that laid claim over two-thirds of the territory of Guyana.

It is expected that Indonesia’s new president Prabowo Subianto will not stray far from his predecessor’s policies surrounding the countries maritime domain.

Ten years ago, then incoming Indonesian President Joko Widodo called on ASEAN leaders meeting in Myanmar to closely cooperate in maintaining maritime security, especially with regard to the South China Sea, where all stakeholders were encouraged to exercise restraint and to seek solutions to the numerous disputes there based on international law.

Whilst logistics operators are well aware of the involvement of organised crime group (OCGs) in cargo theft enterprises, it is important for the industry to remember that the threat posed by organised criminality to logistics operations is multifaceted.

The involvement of Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) in cargo crime throughout Europe is a well-known fact. It is, after all, a relatively low-risk, high-reward crime—and thus presents as a highly attractive venture for criminal enterprises.

To date, over 200 BRI cooperation agreements have been signed with more than 150 countries and 30 international organisations. But there has been push back by some countries. The BRI projects have been criticised for being prone to corruption while severely lacking in economic sustainability, regulatory transparency, and good governance.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was launched by Xi Jinping, the president of the People’s Republic of China, in 2013.

While the situation remains highly volatile, the maritime dimension of the conflict pitting Israel against Hamas and Hezbollah remains only marginal to date.

Against a backdrop of rising tensions in northern Israel with Hezbollah, which has far greater capabilities than Hamas, the port of Haifa could be a target for Hezbollah, which flew a surveillance drone over the port in June.

Upcoming October elections in Georgia, are likely to determine the country’s future direction, looking either East or West.

The Black Sea region has been mired by the impact of the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine since February 2022 – although regional security related concerns and issues also existed prior to the invasion. For Georgia, the Ukraine/Russia war has had a mixed impact.

From the consequences generated by the dark fleet to geopolitics and protection of marine resources, the energy sector faces a variety of vulnerabilities in the area.

Piracy statistics by themselves can lead stakeholders in the energy sector to conclude that their assets in Southeast Asia face few threats. Judging solely on such statistics, it would appear that vessels related to the energy sector, whether VLCCs, OSVs or stationary platforms, are rarely impacted by significant threats.

The discussion in the French Assembly about a constitutional law changing rules for local elections in New Caledonia led to violence across the French South Pacific Territory, directly impacting maritime activities on the island.

This last Tuesday, 28 May 2024, the state of emergency in New Caledonia was lifted by the French Government after two weeks of intense tensions.

The UK introduced new physical checks for ‘medium’ and ‘high-risk’ animal and plant products in April 2024, as part of the post-Brexit Border Target Operating Model.

However, glitches and delays in Dover and at the Channel Tunnel have raised concerns about the impact of these procedures on road transport operations as the country continues to be one of the primary European cargo crime hotspots.

In late February 2024, Haiti’s ongoing multidimensional crisis escalated into widespread gang violence, rendering institutions non-functional and causing an acute humanitarian crisis.

Shipping operations in Port-au-Prince have been severely disrupted, with attacks on port infrastructure and ships leading to the repeated suspension of operations at different facilities, limiting aid delivery and further aggravating the situation.

The release of the bulk carrier ABDULLAH for a claimed ransom of $5 million shows the potential rewards for Somali pirates. At the same time, naval activity off Somalia remains robust, and future pirate operations will likely be making their own risk-reward calculations.

The recent hijackings of the bulk carriers RUEN and ABDULLAH and their detention off the Somali coast has been reminiscent of the Indian Ocean piracy threat of old.

India’s commissioning of its new base, INS Jatuyu, is vital for the Indian Ocean region, reinforcing its efforts in anti-piracy in the Western Arabian Sea.

The Indian Navy took a big step towards strengthening its operational capabilities with the recent commissioning of its new base, INS Jatayu, located on Minicoy Island in Lakshadweep off India’s west coast. This move aims to strengthen the Indian Navy’s position within the Lakshadweep archipelago and expand its operational reach, capacity building, and support within the area.

Although international attention and the shipping industry are focused on the situation in the Red Sea, the resurgence of piracy in the Indian Ocean since November 2023 is also a rising concern that should not be overlooked.

While the first attacks were often linked to fishing conflicts in Somali waters, several attacks have also targeted commercial vessels on the high seas, as shown by the case of the RUEN and the ABDULLAH.