In a striking display of global maritime insecurity, vessels transiting the Red Sea and Persian Gulf are resorting to deception-broadcasting false affiliations with Russia and China-to protect themselves from mounting threats in one of the world’s most strategically vital waterways. A recent report by maritime risk analytics firm Windward, cited by Reuters, reveals a disturbing new trend in which ships are manipulating their identities to avoid becoming targets in a conflict that has increasingly blurred the lines between state actors and proxy forces.

Between June 12 and 24, Windward tracked 55 vessels that sent 101 atypical identity messages such as “China owned” or “Russian crude.” These signals-broadcast over automatic identification systems (AIS)-are part of a deliberate strategy to confuse attackers and distance vessels from perceived Western or Israeli affiliations. Examples include a Panama-flagged ship en route to Pakistan that transmitted “PKKHI all Chinese,” and a Singapore-flagged vessel that declared “Vsl no link Israel.”

These unconventional broadcasts mark a clear deviation from standard maritime protocol. Normally, vessels relay neutral terms like “For Orders” or operational notices such as “Armed Guards on Board” when navigating high-risk areas. However, following Israel’s recent strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and Washington’s implicit backing of Tel Aviv, fears of reprisals have surged. The ripple effect is evident: non-standard messages have spread from the Red Sea to the Persian Gulf, reflecting how quickly regional conflict has reshaped global maritime conduct.

Iran’s latest posturing has intensified the........

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