As we have been reporting all through the day, Russia has warned cargo ships heading for Ukraine will likely be thought-about as carrying army cargo – and it’ll reply accordingly.
Whereas the menace is “ridiculous”, in response to our defence analyst Professor Michael Clarke, it’s a “play on the insurance coverage trade”.
“If you happen to can create the sense of hazard then the ships will not get insurance coverage. You are able to do something you want… but when it does not have insurance coverage then the ship will not sail,” he explains.
Russia made the transfer after pulling out of the Black Sea grain deal, which allowed for the secure export of Ukrainian items from blockaded ports.
Moscow has mentioned it backed out of the pact as a result of its calls for for its personal exports weren’t being met.
“It is all about calls for Russia is making. They need reduction from sanctions, they need to get their agriculture financial institution again within the Swift fee system and so forth,” Prof Clarke continues.
“They’re taking part in onerous ball with the grain deal now, making all kinds of calls for to be able to persuade the remainder of the world that one thing must be carried out to achieve their necessities.”
Watch Prof Clarke’s full evaluation under…