Short reads: The Suez Canal exposes the fragility of our global infrastructure
By now you’ve heard the global ripple effects of the Suez Canal blockage. One blocked canal singlehandedly reducing global trade growth by 0.2–0.4% by holding up $10 billions worth of trade in a week alone. The very benefits of globalisation that has fuelled our growth are showing side effects. We created a brittle system of trade and commerce dependent on aging and inflexible infrastructure.
The Evergiven blockage was innocent enough. A malfunction causing a cargo ship to run aground. But it demonstrates how much we depend on infrastructure. What if someone has nefarious intentions; the Suez Canal is the least of our worries; our dependence on imported food, energy and water. A simple blockade or comprimising of our critical infrastructure (water treatment facilities, sewage facilities, farms!) could destroy our societies so dependent on globilisation.
With little alternatives; we have two choices. Either to strength localisation to reduce our absolute dependence on import; and to strengthen our existing infrastructural systems. Protect our farms, our energy supply, water supplies. Treat them with the same level of security we give to militarised bases and secret sites, because their vulnerability is a liability for any country that depends on it’s crucial outputs.
