Modern merchant shipping does not map neatly onto national fleets. Ships flagged in Panama, Liberia, or the Marshall Islands may belong to multinational companies and carry trade for other countries. Naval protection therefore raises questions about whether responsibility follows the flag, ownership, or cargo destination. Mercogliano reports that only three European escort ships were available, illustrating the limits of protection along the route. By the December 2024 interview, Houthi attacks had diverted shipping around Africa for about a year despite naval deployments and strikes against the attackers.
Chapter · 25:15-28:12
The Red Sea exposes the problem of protecting globalized shipping
Flags of convenience and multinational ownership complicate naval protection while Houthi attacks divert trade around Africa.