The Suez Crisis unfolds as a pivotal moment in a shifting global landscape, reminiscent of globalised trade affiliations, as the world fractures into new bloc formations in a post-Covid continuum.
Dr. Moritz Brake, a maritime security expert leading Nexmaris consultancy in Köln, emphasized in a webinar on the shipping disruption caused by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea that this goes beyond mere shipping line disruptions. Brake contends that the Suez situation is a symptom of a larger disruption in the current global economic order, intentionally orchestrated by major geopolitical actors.
Unlike previous incidents like the Ever Given blockage, Brake stresses that this disruption is a strategic move involving Russia, Iran (via the Houthis as proxies), and tacit Chinese support against the West. The Houthi attacks, combined with counter-attacks by naval forces, extend beyond headline-grabbing waterway disruptions, impacting global markets and leading to industrial shutdowns in Germany.
Brake underscores the danger of solidifying blocs due to these attacks, with certain trade structures becoming more favorable amid heightened competition between East and West. Smaller nations find themselves caught in the crossfire of increasingly hostile bigger economies, raising concerns about their alignment in this evolving geopolitical landscape.
While acknowledging the deplorable targeting of maritime traffic with ulterior motives, Brake urges a broader perspective, viewing missile strikes around the Horn of Africa as distractions from the bigger geopolitical picture. As the world navigates these challenges, Brake warns that the interests of many countries lie in avoiding alignment with either side in the face of de-globalized multipolarity. The Suez Crisis, therefore, unfolds as a complex and intentional disruption with far-reaching implications for global trade and geopolitical alignments.
Source: Freight News