Monthly Intelligence Report May 2026

This month’s issue of the Monthly Intelligence Report covers incidents that took place between April 1 - 30, 2026, in three focus regions:

• West Africa

• Western Indian Ocean (including the Persian Gulf)

• South East Asia

Focus topic: Maritime security-related developments across Asia

This month, we are taking a look at potential flashpoints for maritime security-related issues in Asia.  Over the past months, tensions across the Korean peninsula, the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea have remained elevated, highlighted by ongoing military activity and maritime disputes. North Korea has continued missile testing and advanced its naval modernisation, China has maintained a high tempo of air and naval operations around Taiwan, and incidents between Chinese and Philippine vessels have underscored persistent tensions in the South China Sea.

In addition, the report provides a brief update on the maritime implications of the war in Ukraine.

This month's risk and threat assessment

In the report's assessment, the main incidents are put into a broader context to highlight current threat levels and potential changes for maritime operations. Moreover, the report includes forecasts that cover the main concerns in the coming weeks.