Trump Could Lead World To War Warns London-Based Shipping Chief

Knives are out for Donald Trump in London shipping circles.

In an interview published by the Financial Times today Guy Platten, chief of the International Chamber of Shipping – the world’s largest organization representing shipowners – told the Financial Times that a second Trump presidency could lead the world into war. Comments that Brent Sadler, a fellow at the conservative think tank Heritage, called “a whiff of fear-mongering.”

“The world order has never been under such threat since before the Second World War,” Platten said. “When we last did this, it didn’t work…Trade wars lead to war.”

Platten also claimed that a visit to the White House in 2018 was “scary” and he fears that “Trump’s nationalist policies could return with a vengeance” in 2025.

“There’s a danger, if that regime comes in again, we’re going to see that on steroids,” he told FT.

In an interview with Elon Musk last night Trump said, and Musk agreed, that Biden’s weakness is a root cause of the current wars in Ukraine, Israel and the Red Sea.

In the interview, Platten did not criticize Biden or the United States for the Houthis war actions shipping or the navy’s failure to secure the region. He did however accuse Biden-Harris administration of targeting Chinese shipping.

Chinese shipowners “are really worried about the potential of tariffs to be placed on Chinese-built ships”, he said. “There’s always a price to be paid, which is not something politicians necessarily think through.”

The FT’s Oliver Telling stated that Platten’s comments highlight broader unease about the political direction of the US, especially concerning China, and efforts by both Democrats and Republicans to expand the regulatory power of the Federal Maritime Commission.

This comes one week after Senator Mark Kelly, a finalist for selection as Harris’ running mate, introduced the bipartisan Strategic Port Reporting Act to counter the growing maritime threat from China. The legislation requires the U.S. Department of Defense to devise a strategy to address the increasing influence of Chinese companies in key global ports which, Kelly warns, threatens U.S. national security, trade routes, and global supply chains.

It also comes one day after a group of professors at the US Navy War College warned that the Chinese Communist Party has implemented a system of political control aboard commercial ships through party branches and ship political commissars.

gCaptain discussed the news with senior Democrats and Republicans. Both expressed concern about the future of the US and UK’s “special relationship.” Some members of London-based organizations, such as the International Chamber of Shipping and the UN’s International Maritime Organization, seem to be distancing themselves from the United States, favoring the more liberal European Union and the more adversarial China.

Apart from China and the Red Sea, the Biden-Harris administration has shown little interest in shipping politics and has done little to prevent shipping executives from aligning with China. On the right, however, there is significant unease about the liberal policies of the new Labor government, including questions about freedom of speech. If Trump is elected, the UK might have to choose between liberal policies and American interests. This could put considerable strain on London-based maritime, insurance, and naval partnerships with the United States.

Unlock Exclusive Insights Today!

Join the gCaptain Club for curated content, insider opinions, and vibrant community discussions.

Sign Up