Ian Ralby
@imralby.bsky.social
Expert in maritime security, international law and global affairs.
Absolutely delighted to share a new piece, out today, that I penned for The Observer. It provides a plain language explanation of what is needed to understand the tanker chases and vessel seizures that are happening right now. Let me know what you think!
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Shadow fleets, ghost vessels and false flags: what the la...
Maritime law has governed the waves for thousands of years. Where does it leave sanctions on Russia and Iran?
observer.co.uk
January 15, 2026 at 4:48 PM
Absolutely delighted to share a new piece, out today, that I penned for The Observer. It provides a plain language explanation of what is needed to understand the tanker chases and vessel seizures that are happening right now. Let me know what you think!
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Ian Ralby
’After shadow fleet ships spent years hiding any Russian affiliation, we now see the most wanted vessels overtly flying the Russian flag. This indicates 🇷🇺 willingness to use military assets to protect sanctioned vessels could be setting up a state-on-state confrontation’ -
By @imralby.bsky.social
By @imralby.bsky.social
Shadow fleets, ghost vessels and false flags: what the la...
Maritime law has governed the waves for thousands of years. Where does it leave sanctions on Russia and Iran?
observer.co.uk
January 15, 2026 at 2:37 PM
’After shadow fleet ships spent years hiding any Russian affiliation, we now see the most wanted vessels overtly flying the Russian flag. This indicates 🇷🇺 willingness to use military assets to protect sanctioned vessels could be setting up a state-on-state confrontation’ -
By @imralby.bsky.social
By @imralby.bsky.social
Reposted by Ian Ralby
Very insightful interview with Dr Ian Ralby on the Houthis. He knows them up close!
wyomingstarnews.org/2025/06/17/e...
wyomingstarnews.org/2025/06/17/e...
EXCLUSIVE: Houthi Red Sea Crisis. Middle East Tensions Deepen. | Wyoming Star
The Houthi movement in Yemen has reignited the Red Sea crisis by announcing a naval blockade of Israel’s port city of Haifa, a move that deepens regional ... read at Wyoming Star. Stay informed with e...
wyomingstarnews.org
June 17, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Very insightful interview with Dr Ian Ralby on the Houthis. He knows them up close!
wyomingstarnews.org/2025/06/17/e...
wyomingstarnews.org/2025/06/17/e...
Reposted by Ian Ralby
One further case of 🇷🇺 Russian officials dying abroad, this time a spy/diplomat‘s ‚suicide‘. For context, linking a piece in which Ian M. Ralby @imralby.bsky.social and I had explored some patterns behind ‚Sudden Russian Death Syndrome‘ a couple of years ago
www.diplomaticourier.com/posts/making...
www.diplomaticourier.com/posts/making...
January 14, 2026 at 7:40 PM
One further case of 🇷🇺 Russian officials dying abroad, this time a spy/diplomat‘s ‚suicide‘. For context, linking a piece in which Ian M. Ralby @imralby.bsky.social and I had explored some patterns behind ‚Sudden Russian Death Syndrome‘ a couple of years ago
www.diplomaticourier.com/posts/making...
www.diplomaticourier.com/posts/making...
My latest news hit on Asia One regarding the possibility of the US using force (again) in Iran: www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3cs...
Trump Issues Statement on Iran Amid Ongoing Protests | Perspectiva with Tom Philpot | Asia One News
YouTube video by Asiaonenews
www.youtube.com
January 14, 2026 at 9:48 PM
My latest news hit on Asia One regarding the possibility of the US using force (again) in Iran: www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3cs...
Recent hit on PBS News Hour regarding the US “indefinitely” controlling oil production in Venezuela:
www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...
www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...
White House says U.S. will control Venezuelan oil industry 'indefinitely'
The Trump administration escalated its pressure on Venezuelan oil, seizing two tankers and declaring it intends to “indefinitely” sell the country’s oil. The administration's rhetoric has also include...
www.pbs.org
January 14, 2026 at 9:45 PM
Recent hit on PBS News Hour regarding the US “indefinitely” controlling oil production in Venezuela:
www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...
www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...
Delighted to be block quoted in this piece by the Wyoming Star - welcome others' thoughts and perspectives on the legal and security questions:
wyomingstarnews.org/2026/01/14/e...
wyomingstarnews.org/2026/01/14/e...
EXCLUSIVE: Capture the Tanker. Inside the US Oil Blockade of Venezuela. | Wyoming Star
There’s a new script for 21st-century coercion at sea: warrants, helicopters, Coast Guard boarding teams and civil-forfeiture filings. Over the last ... read at Wyoming Star. Stay informed with expert...
wyomingstarnews.org
January 14, 2026 at 9:43 PM
Delighted to be block quoted in this piece by the Wyoming Star - welcome others' thoughts and perspectives on the legal and security questions:
wyomingstarnews.org/2026/01/14/e...
wyomingstarnews.org/2026/01/14/e...