Conflict rages around the world, but diplomacy is no longer even trundling its weary way between capitals. Breaches of international law and the savagery of the battlefield and assaults on the homes of many thousands of innocents are unstoppable.
The alleged stabbing of one air pilot by another inside the cockpit of Flydubai flight FZ1073, en route to Tel Aviv from Dubai on September 30, 2026, leading to the aircraft plunging more than 17,000ft (5,200m) is the latest incident which can be ascribed to the failure of any potential “diplomacy” in the background as well as any apparent security breakdown, with the proximate cause reported to have been a hijack attempt.
Where are the big political guns when we need them? Just look at the ground that has been made by the ill-equipped Houthi forces in Yemen, making their way from one besieged city to the next, firing towards the country’s main airport at Aden, shortly before a plane was due to land from Cairo. Their defiance of the mighty Saudi Arabian air and ground forces is remarkable, but there is no word of any attempt at ceasefire or mediation or real pushback.
There have been many years of civil conflict in Yemen. Did anybody know that? They did, but few expected that the antagonisms and the intervention of Iran backing the Houthis would threaten international shipping and a key global waterway, the narrow Bab al-Mandab which sees about 10% of global maritime trade.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a gamble for shipowners and traders. A few days ago, a Panama-flag tanker was struck by a missile while transiting, with 12 seafarers said to have been injured.
There has been no real let-up since the US and Israel unleashed war on Iran in February., and now the field of action has spread to the waters of Bulgaria and Romania. Commercial shipping continues to be an easy target in the Black Sea, thanks to the unresolved Russia/Ukraine war. Among the latest casualties was a Liberian aframax which according to Russian authorities was attacked off Sochi, causing a fire and oil spill.
On land, the city of Kyiv is under more intense fire than ever, with Moscow targeting bridges and power infrastructure.
Oh yes, and two of the world’s most powerful leaders met in New York in the past month. There was lots of ceremony as President Trump feted his opposite number Xi Jinping. The festivities were characterised by critics as “diplotainment” with little progress on trade issues, let alone physical geopolitical strife. The main beneficiaries were Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, giant pandas which China is loaning as a goodwill gesture to a zoo in Atlanta.
AND there is more mess to come, particularly in the Central / East Med and the Black Seas; WATCH THIS SPACE!
Written on the 3rd Anniversay of the despicable Hamas attack during the Nova Music Festival in Israel.
Viewers can also read the previous report here so they can connect enfolding events.
P.S. This report was compiled immediately after day one of the MALTA MARITIME SUMMIT 2026 (06 October) were we had three sessions, 1,2 and 3 under the themes:
- Maritime Governance in a New Institutional Environment: Rules, Tariffs, Enforcements
- Geopolitics and the Macroeconomic consequences, and
- The New Threat Landscape: Cyber, Drones and Hybrid Warfare at Sea.-
