From the Caribbean to Hormuz: The Global Conflict No One is Seeing

The world’s oceans are witnessing a level of conflict not seen in decades. In this episode of What's Going on With Shipping?, we analyze the rapid escalation of maritime warfare across three key regions: the Caribbean, the Black Sea, and the Strait of Hormuz. From the U.S. Southern Command's strikes on narco-vessels to Ukraine's massive drone offensive against the Russian fleet, and the latest Iranian attacks on commercial tankers, we break down why these "out of sight" events have a habit of triggering global crises. Key Highlights: ⚓Caribbean Operations: A look at Operation Southern Spear and the controversial 66 strikes against suspected narco-terrorist boats. ⚓Black Sea Offensive: Analyzing Ukraine’s strike on 21 Russian ships within 72 hours and the shift toward targeting bridge and accommodation areas. ⚓Hormuz Crisis: The breakdown of the U.S.-Iran ceasefire after three commercial tankers were struck by Iranian UAVs and projectiles. ⚓Historical Context: Why maritime incidents—from unrestricted submarine warfare to tanker wars—historically lead to major global declarations of war. ⚓The "Fainting Goat" Effect: How the fear of predators in the shipping lanes causes global trade to lock up and freeze in place. 00:00 - Intro: The Reality of Modern Naval Warfare 01:43 - How Maritime Events Historically Escalate into War 04:22 - Conflict 1: Operation Southern Spear in the Caribbean 07:02 - Conflict 2: Drone Attacks and Escalation in the Black Sea 10:11 - Geopolitics of the Sea of Azov and Russian Inland Waterways 13:17 - Conflict 3: The Deteriorating Situation in the Strait of Hormuz 14:48 - Iranian Strikes and US Response (CENTCOM) 16:43 - Analysis of the Iran vs. Oman Safe Passage Lanes 18:32 - The Memorandum of Understanding and Control Disputes 21:51 - The Long-term Impact of Undeclared Naval Wars 23:44 - Outro and How to Support the Channel Contact What's Going on With Shipping via: Patreon: www.patreon.com/wgowshipping Twitter: @mercoglianos Bluesky: @mercoglianos.bsky.social Facebook: @wgowshipping Email: [email protected] Marine Traffic www.marinetraffic.com Timeline of Boat Strikes and Related Actions https://www.justsecurity.org/124002/t... Ukraine hits 21 Russian ships within 72 hours https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/sec... Three Tankers Attacked Near Strait of Hormuz as JMIC Warns of ‘Severe’ Threat https://gcaptain.com/drone-attack-rep... US revokes Iran sanctions waiver following attacks on shipping https://www.lloydslist.com/LL1157766/... IMO Urges Ships to Avoid Hormuz as U.S. Strikes Iran Over Vessel Attacks https://gcaptain.com/imo-urges-ships-...