
How Tanker Insurance Became the Real Blockade of Hormuz
A two‑week ceasefire announced by President Trump has not reopened the Strait of Hormuz for commercial traffic. In the first 48 hours only five to nine bulk carriers were recorded, a fraction of the pre‑war average of over 100 vessels per day that move about 20% of global oil. Around 230 loaded oil tankers remain stuck in the Gulf, while Brent and WTI prices fell sharply but stayed above pre‑war levels. The decisive barrier is the lack of war‑risk insurance, leaving operators unwilling to sail despite political declarations.

Munich Security Conference 2026 Key Takeaways & Outlook
The 2026 Munich Security Conference highlighted a shift from cooperative interdependence to a world of managed strategic rivalry, where military posture, technology control, and capital flows are increasingly intertwined. Delegates discussed how this new security architecture reshapes alliances, supply‑chain resilience,...

India and the US Rewire Trade in the Indo-Pacific
The episode examines the interim U.S.-India trade deal announced in February 2026, which cuts U.S. tariffs on Indian goods from 50% to 18% and obliges India to cease Russian oil imports in favor of U.S. energy supplies. It traces the...