Nikolas-Alketas Drosos, Maritime Commercial Manager for Greece and Cyprus at EOS Risk Group, warns that commercial shipping faces interconnected crises rather than isolated danger zones. Key maritime routes from the Strait of Hormuz to the Red Sea, South China Sea, and Baltic are increasingly influenced by overlapping threats including state rivalry, terrorism, piracy, organized crime, and migration pressures.

The Strait of Hormuz remains the most sensitive area, with conflicting security control demands from Iran and the US heightening the risk of incidents that could trigger broader crises. The Red Sea continues to experience threats from Houthi attacks against ships linked to Israel, while Somali piracy is resurging in the Gulf of Aden, demonstrating how geopolitical instability enables criminal networks to exploit maritime routes.

This evolving threat environment demands constant monitoring and flexibility from shipping companies, insurers, and national authorities. For Greece, hosting the world’s leading merchant fleet, these maritime risks directly influence insurance costs, route planning, and operational security, underscoring maritime security as a crucial element of national economy and international strategy.