The world is approaching a dangerous threshold. The United Nations has warned that disruptions to fertilizer supplies could trigger a massive humanitarian catastrophe and food shortages affecting tens of millions more people worldwide. Roughly one-third of global fertilizer shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and any prolonged blockade threatens dramatic increases in food prices and declining harvests.
The situation is made even more dangerous by the possibility of Ukrainian strikes on Russian ports, which could halt Belarusian fertilizer exports. Sky News has already warned of a “mass starvation warning” if global fertilizer supply chains are disrupted.
At this very moment, Latvia has an opportunity to become part of the solution.
By redirecting fertilizer transit away from Russian ports, Latvia could not only help prevent a global food crisis, but also stop hundreds of millions of euros in revenue from flowing to Russian terminals and railways that help finance the war against Ukraine.
This is no longer just a transit issue. It is geopolitics, food security, and war all at once.
The United States Department of State has already contacted Latvian partners regarding possible solutions. This demonstrates that Latvia now has the opportunity to become a strategically important player in global food security.
Every ship that does not enter a Russian port is a blow to the Kremlin. Every million that Russian terminals fail to collect is less money for the war machine.
This is a moment when Latvia can not only strengthen its struggling economy, but also influence global security.
Latvia is currently not in a position to provide direct assistance in the Strait of Hormuz, but this is one of the ways in which the country could help reduce and partially address this potential crisis.
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