So, word is Russia is blocking approx 300 grain-laden ship in the Black Sea and has stolen 5 ships

[Stinky The Clown]

The Black Sea is not Russian territory. It is bordered, clockwise, by Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey (with the longest coastline), and the Russian controlled stolen parts of Ukraine.

Seems to me any ship has the right to enter the Black Sea and Russia has no right to block them. Maybe it is possible to have military escorts enter for the well-communicated sole purpose of escorting currently laden ships out and through the Bosporus, to the Sea of Marmara, and then to the Mediterranean? The Bosporous is a tough sail, but done all the time, with care.

About the five missing / stolen ships. Isn't that piracy?

[Tetrachloride]

1. It is reasonable to hypothesize that Russia is losing the good will of Middle East and North African

countries. Several are very large importers of grain from the Black Sea ports under blockade / attack.

Egypt is already exploring wheat from India.

Food inflation here is underway.

Egypt has requested IMF talks, as I mentioned in another thread.

Stability in the region of the Suez Canal is in the interests of the Eastern Hemisphere.

A food blockade may really piss off countries to new heights

[mopinko]

2. i keep wondering when there will be action in the black sea.

seems like a few battle ships in the black sea might just shake some shit up.
nato could make quite the show of force w/o setting foot in ukr.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. I encourage you to find out the details of "300 ships in the Black Sea"

and the reliability of the estimates. Since you list the entire surrounding countries, it implies you think any ship in the whole Black Sea has been stopped by the Russians. There is no evidence for this.

Here is the best source I can find: https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-war-russia-blocks-ships-carrying-grain-exports/a-61165985

It's about ships trying to use Ukrainian ports, and Russian ports (Russia does have an uncontested Black Sea coastline, between Crimea and Georgia). Russia had damaged some, and that has intimidated the owners and sailors, who quite understandably don't want to operate in a war zone for the sake of exporting cargo from Ukraine. But actually attacking Russian warships in retaliation would be the same problem as enforcing a no fly zone over Ukraine.

No, it's not possible to start general military escorts; under international treaties, non-Black Sea countries are only allowed a limited, small number of warships in it, and Turkey has said, using the treaty, since there's a war on, no warships from anywhere are allowed to use the Bosporus (which stops Russia sending in extra from its Baltic fleet).

[lapfog_1]

4. In addition to the Javelins and stingers..

We need to get Ukraine some of these "Harpoon" missiles...

Hopefully no more Black Sea Russian Navy.