Sam Gallo @SamGa110

Following the announcement of a U.S.-led Strait of Hormuz transit framework called Project Freedom, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre has reported that a vessel has reported being hit by an unknown projectile 78nm north of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. All crew reported safe at this time.

Australia has a significant opportunity in our gas exports. Other countries have used resource revenues to build sovereign wealth funds that deliver long-term public benefit. A fair return on gas exports could help build a fund that invests in Australia’s future. sbs.com.au/news/article/a… Join the campaign: ourgas.com.au

As a European, I hang my head in shame. The US has shown that if you blockade an oil exporter, they fold quickly. Europe can do this to Russia and shut down oil tanker traffic out of the Baltic. But it doesn't. Innocent Ukrainians pay the price every day. robinjbrooks.substack.com/p/the-baltic-c…

Trump's 'favourite field marshal' Asim Munir plays key role in bid to end Iran war thenationalnews.com/news/2026/04/1…

Italy and Spain have given far less aid to Ukraine than Norway, Sweden or the Netherlands, even though their economies are way bigger. Italy and Spain clamor for "solidarity" whenever their bond markets are in trouble, but they don't give it to others... robinjbrooks.substack.com/p/what-the-end…

NOW - Trump's suggestion to countries that cannot get fuel over Strait of Hormuz closure: "Buy oil from the United States of America, we have plenty, we have so much!" He adds, "Go to the Strait and just take it! Protect it!"

Mistral raises $830mn to build Nvidia-powered AI centres in Europe ft.trib.al/TForfNJ

The "lot of us" gang is banking on the closure of the Strait of Hormuz (March 2026) to break India. India has already pivoted. The 9.5 day figure refers strictly to the Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR): emergency underground salt caverns managed by ISPRL. Comparing India’s energy security to just the SPR is like looking at a billionaire’s wallet & saying they only have ₹2000, while ignoring their ₹50000 crore in the bank. As of late March 2026, India’s total operational stock (held by oil marketing companies like IOC, BPCL, & HPCL in their own tanks & pipelines) provides an additional 64.5 days of cover. India’s actual combined oil cover is ~74 days. The 9.5 days claim intentionally ignores 87% of the country’s actual physical oil inventory to create a panic narrative. Also, even during this "crisis" in March 2026, India remains a net exporter of refined petroleum products.

NEW - The Strait of Hormuz closure is driving a return to coal, with many countries racing to secure supplies — Semafor

While all attention is (rightly) on the Strait of Hormuz, Ukraine has hit Russia’s ability to export oil quite hard in recent days (hitting in particular Baltic Sea oil ports that seldom had come under attack during the war)

‼️ This is important. Russia is moving toward the militarization of maritime trade. In recent weeks, Putin’s aide Nikolai Patrushev has been consistently advancing the same logic: Moscow is using the risk of detentions and blockades as a pretext to bring the navy into play, legitimize convoys, armed escorts, and tighter control over vessels. ‼️ This effectively pulls commercial shipping into the sphere of force and imposes the practice of military cover for trade routes. In recent months, European countries have more frequently stopped sanctioned vessels for inspection. The UK has already authorized its military to board and detain such ships in its waters, while France seized the tanker Deyna in the western Mediterranean. Russia is using this as justification to expand its military presence around commercial shipping and promote a model of armed escort. ‼️ If Russian mobile fire groups or naval vessels escort ships in a way that threatens a coastal state, interferes with its lawful control in territorial waters, facilitates sanctions evasion, or if a commercial vessel is effectively used for military purposes, this would constitute a violation of UNCLOS by Russia. This is a deliberate blurring of the line between civilian shipping and military force - and a push toward escalation. Where clashes are most likely: 1. The Great Belt (Denmark) - one of the main Baltic chokepoints. 2. Øresund - a narrow strait between two NATO states (Denmark/Sweden). 3. Skagerrak and Kattegat (Denmark) - the most dangerous transit zone between the Baltic and the North Sea. In 2025, 292 sanctioned tankers passed through here. 4. UK waters on the approaches to the English Channel and the Dover Strait - currently the most likely flashpoint, given new political authorization for boarding and detention. 5. The western Mediterranean - a confirmed zone of enforcement actions. France’s seizure of Deyna shows that the risk extends beyond the Baltic straits. The vessel was sailing from Murmansk under a Mozambican flag and was intercepted over suspected links to the shadow fleet and irregularities with its flag and documentation. The most likely confrontation will not resemble a large naval battle, but rather a series of "dirty" incidents: an attempt to stop a tanker, a Russian claim of "protection," an armed escort or naval vessel nearby, dangerous maneuvering, electronic warfare, warning shots - followed by accusations of "piracy" and a new round of pressure. If inspections become systematic, Russia will shift high-risk voyages into a "vessel plus escort" format and deliberately turn each inspection into a political and security crisis. Russia is bringing the war to the sea and covering commercial shipping with military force. It is deliberately erasing the line between civilian vessels and military instruments so that any lawful inspection appears as an attack on a "protected" shipment. This is not the protection of shipping, but the militarization of trade: Russia is turning the sea into yet another grey zone of coercion, where law is expected to yield to the threat of force.

The US is so powerful that it could destroy the entire Middle East and it would barely register for most Americans, yet if you listen to geopolitics-pilled people, it's constantly threatened by enemies so fearsome they will somehow destroy the American way of life unless the US wreaks havoc halfway around the world in a place they've never even heard of.

Jesse Watters @JesseBWatters

4 months ago

Spring Break goes WILD☀️ 🍺🤪 and the students have NO IDEA what’s going on🤣 “The BIGGEST issue in America is what BIKINI I’m wearing tomorrow”👙 “We’re going to war with IRAQ that’s been crazy”🤔 “I’ve NEVER heard the word Ayatollah in my life”🫢 “Is Venezuela in

2K 3K 29K 9.5M 12K

Oil in Oman soars above $150 as buyers rush to replace Gulf barrels ft.trib.al/HwoJ71V

MAP OF THE DAY: While the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed (other than a few tankers, notably from India), the Red Sea is witnessing the arrival of an oil tanker armada to the Saudi terminals there. (Tracking via @TheTerminal) (Blue arrows are oil tankers DWT >120,000)

The discount on Urals crude versus Brent has shrunk to zero. Russia's windfall now exceeds anything we saw in 2022 after the Ukraine invasion. Recent US sanctions waivers have destigmatized Russian oil and give Putin a huge windfall. Terrible for Ukraine. robinjbrooks.substack.com/p/a-huge-windf…

🚨The only Democrat on the City Council in Wayne New Jersey is RESIGNING This is a Trump +15🔴 city, Republicans have a prime opportunity to FLIP this seat, this should be a top target Democrats in NJ are running away from Mikie Sherrill, buyers remorse patch.com/new-jersey/way…

Democrats probe missing files alleging Trump link to Epstein ft.trib.al/jOjub4f

Trump’s tariffs exert heavy burden on midsize US companies ft.trib.al/6plprua

Mexico's trade surplus with the US is bigger than ever, but the country just doesn't grow. Is this because there's so little valued added in Mexico's exports that they're de facto transshipment or is it that a small elite captures all the gains from trade? robinjbrooks.substack.com/p/mexicos-grow…

Mexico is a puzzle. Exports to the US are better than ever, but the country is back to the same kind of growth stagnation that defined the 5 years pre-COVID. Reason is weak private consumption, so the benefits from trade aren't reaching enough people... robinjbrooks.substack.com/p/mexicos-grow…