Trump wants a 20% protection fee for shipping lanes
Just when we thought the Middle East couldn't get more chaotic, we are now entering the mafia-style protection racket era of global shipping lanes.
The U.S. military just wrapped up a massive five-hour bombardment of Iranian targets. This marks the third consecutive night of airstrikes, ordered directly by President Donald Trump. In response, Iran's Revolutionary Guard hit UAE oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and claimed they set fire to U.S. Navy fuel tanks in Bahrain.
But here is the absolute kicker: while the missiles are flying, Trump announced a new naval blockade and casually floated the idea of charging every ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz a 20% protection fee. Yes, a 20% tax on their cargo value in exchange for the U.S. keeping them safe.
It is basically "nice global trade route you got there, shame if something happened to it."
The line between high-stakes geopolitics and a classic protection racket has officially evaporated.
Source: UPI
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