March 6,  2026

Auxilium Worldwide, in partnership with INTERPOL, was delighted to deliver the second of a series of Maritime Law Enforcement Tabletop Exercises in the Caribbean.  This TTX involved the full spectrum of maritime agencies in the British Virgin Islands and was led by our president, Dr. Ian Ralby, and our Head of Resource Responsibility, Dr. David Soud.  Through a mix of discussions and scenarios, the engagement sought to both offer new ideas, insights, tools and resources for the BVI agencies, and to help identify gaps and weaknesses that could be addressed through future efforts. Ian and David thoroughly enjoyed their time in BVI - both during the exercise and susbsequent meetings, and appreciated the warm welcome and extensive interaction from the participants.  

March 2,  2026

Our President, Dr. Ian Ralby, provided a legal and diplomatic assessment of what the US and Israel are doing in Iran.  The discussion touched on individual responsibility for international crimes, and the issue of credibility on the world stage.  Watch HERE. 

March 1,  2026

Our President, Dr. Ian Ralby, went live on AsiaOne News to try to make sense of the military and governmental objectives of the US and Israeli attack on Iran. What is the end state they are after?  Were they prepared for this response from Iran? And what happens next as this conflict expands?  Watch HERE. 

February 27,  2026

Auxilium Worldwide, in partnership with INTERPOL, was delighted to deliver the first of a series of Maritime Law Enforcement Tabletop Exercises in the Caribbean.  This first TTX was with the full spectrum of maritime agencies in St. Lucia and was led by our president, Dr. Ian Ralby, and our legal associate, Elizabeth Nwarueze.  Through a mix of discussions and scenarios, the engagement sought to both offer new ideas, insights, tools and resources for the St. Lucia agencies, and to help identify gaps and weaknesses that could be addressed through future efforts. Ian and Elizabeth thoroughly enjoyed their time in St. Lucia and appreciated the warm welcome and extensive interaction from the participants.  

February 23,  2026

In Auxilium Worldwide’s work with CARICOM IMPACS on “Fish and Flags” - an initiative to uncover and counter the criminal exploitation of fishers in the Caribbean (made possible with funding from Oceans 5) - we worked to identify practical means of reducing the vulnerabilities in the region’s fishing sector.  One of the top issues that arose was that small-scale fishers could not access formal financing mechanisms to pay for repairs or purchase equipment. But criminal groups were happy to lend them money… in exchange for illegal favors.  Dr. David Soud and Dr. Ian Ralby argue that financing small-scale fishers should be pursed as a counter-crime approach in the region.  Read the article HERE. 

February 18,  2026

Our President, Dr. Ian Ralby, was quoted in Lloyd's List by Ece Goksedef and Bridget Diakun regarding Red Sea maritime security and the reticence of shipping lines to return to transiting the critical chokepoint.  Between renewed Houthi threats - including toward Saudi Arabia - and the fear of increased Iranian hostilities in the event of a US attack, uncertainty is at a premium. Read the article HERE. 

February 12,  2026

Our President, Dr. Ian Ralby, returned to ABC News to speak with Kyra Phillips, live, about how the U.S. efforts to prevent fuel from reaching Cuba are creating new challenges.  Critically, the Cuban people are suffering, and that deserves the most attention.  But as a result of that suffering, new actors are entering the picture in Cuba and creating new geopolitical and security challenges for the United States. Watch HERE. 

February 2,  2026

Our Head of Resource Responsibility, Dr. David Soud, is prominently quoted in this exposé on the growing issue of using gold concentrate as a means of both gold smuggling and money laundering.  This tactic has accounted for an enormous boom in gold leaving Peru and has ties to all sorts of illicit activity, including state action.  The basis for this article is Dr. Soud's seminal work on the subject for the OECD published in September 2025. Read the article HERE. 

January 29,  2026

Our President, Dr. Ian Ralby, sat down with Lawrence Dogli of the Gulf of Guinea Maritime Institute to discuss illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the region.  This conversation touched on security, law, governance and cultural heritage.  Dr. Ralby raises a range of issues including domestic governance challenges and foreign influence operations. Watch HERE. 

January 29,  2026

Our President, Dr. Ian Ralby, presented on "Hybridity, Lawfare and Unlawfare in the Maritime Domain" to the Naval Attachés Association in Washington, DC.  Hosted by the Japanese Embassy, and situated in the historic Ambassador's Residence, he shared candidly about some of the ways in which key hybrid aggressors are using doubt as a weapon to undermine the rules based order and gain strategic and tactical advantage.  See the LinkedIn Post HERE. 

January 26,  2026

As the United States leans forward on vessel interdictions, the implications for maritime security, worldwide, are raising all sorts of new questions.  Our President, Dr. Ian Ralby, met with Dr. Michael Nwankpa to discuss those interdictions and African maritime security on the CACD podcast.  Watch his analysis HERE. 

January 21,  2026

In our monthly Making Sense of Maritime Matters (MSOMM) series, we sought to be responsive to the current Caribbean context. Recent events have plunged the Caribbean maritime space into the global spotlight.  As the maritime security picture evolves in unprecedented ways and 2026 appears to be bringing greater and greater unpredictability to the region, two members of our team, Dr. Ian Ralby and Dr. David Soud, sought to share a bit of analysis of what is going on and where things may be heading.  For those with access to CBSI Connect, watch HERE. 

January 19,  2026

Sharing the screen with Michelle Wiese Bockmann and Sal Mercogliano, our President Dr. Ian Ralby speaks with Eli Glasner of CBC to discuss the ghost fleet and its trajectory.   Watch the segment HERE. 

January 15,  2026

Our President, Dr. Ian Ralby, is quoted extensively on the ongoing challenges to vessels considering a return to traversing the Red Sea.  While the threat of the Houthis remains, there are other issues at play, as well.   Read his analysis HERE. 

January 14,  2026

Our President, Dr. Ian Ralby, is block quoted alongside other experts regarding the legal and security implications of the United Staes leaning forward on sanctions enforcement regarding tankers tied to Venezuela.   Read his analysis HERE. 

January 6, 2026

The United States government has made statements indicating an intent to control Venezuela's oil production "indefinitely" - a claim that raises many practical questions. Our President, Dr. Ian Ralby, had the chance to discuss some of those questions with Nick Schifrin on PBS News Hour.  Watch his analysis HERE. 

December 21, 2025

As the United States has begun seizing tankers in the Caribbean in addition to blowing up alleged drug boats, many questions arise.  Our President, Dr. Ian Ralby went on CNA news in Singapore to discuss the legal, operational and geoplitical implications of these actions.  Watch his analysis HERE. 

December 19, 2025

Our team submitted a letter in support of one of the prisoners in our program as he faced a sentencing hearing that would determine his future.  Our President attended the hearing and the Judge, defense counsel and defendant all talked about Auxilium Worldwide having made a meaningful impact on the young man. That factored in to the Judge issuing the minimum sentence, together with enrolling him in programs that will better set him up for the future as a productive member of society.

December 16, 2025

Over the last two years, we have worked, with the Caribbean Community's Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS) to pursue transparency in the Caribbean's fisheries sector and flag registries to reduce exploitation.  We have now launched six reports - available HERE on our website and on the IMPACS website under the banner of "Fish & Flags: Supporting Caribbean States in Moving from Threatened to Thriving."  This work was made possible through the support of Oceans 5. Oceans 5 is a sponsored project of Rockafeller Philanthropy Advisors.  This event was in place of our normal Making Sense of Maritime Matters (MSOMM) webinars. For those with access to CBSI Connect, watch HERE. 

December 12, 2025

A joint investigation by Lloyd's List and Bellingcat has produced an analysis of maritime movements indicating that the market for grain, smuggled by Russia out of Ukraine, has found a market in Saudi Arabia.  Our President, Dr. Ian Ralby, is quoted regarding the Russian efforts to expand access to warm water ports and markets for its sanctioned and illicit trade. Read the Article: HERE

December 4, 2025

Auxilium's Founder, Rohini Ralby and President, Dr. Ian Ralby teamed up to write this piece  describing farmers as America's first patriots, and lamenting that the current "America First" policies are making them the country's last priority. When farmers and food get ruined by governments, the outcome is never good for society. Everyone needs to get wiser on agricultural policy, as we can live without many things, but we cannot survive without food!  Read the article: HERE

November 27, 2025

Auxilium's President, Dr. Ian Ralby, teamed up with Ukrainian Member of Parliament Oleg Dunda to write a powerful op-ed in Lloyd's List, arguing for a new approach to addressing the extensive "shadow fleet" that has become the lifeblood of the Russian economy.  In addition  focusing on the ships and the cargoes that have been sanctioned, states should look at using different levers to making ports inaccessible to the shadow fleet. Read the article: HERE

November 25, 2025

In a collaboration with Virun Lutchman of CARICOM IMPACS and Dr. Ifesenachi Okafor-Yarwood of the University of St. Andrews, Dr. Ian Ralby, our President, explores the issue of blame in the maritime domain.  As part of our monthly series with The Diplomatic Courier, this piece argues that we tend to blame maritime issues on what is visible from shore, as we remain blind to the main problems - many of which are farther out to sea. The points are relevant to all those who work in maritime affairs. Read the article: HERE

November 19, 2025

A team from Auxilium Worldwide including Dr. Ian Ralby, Dr. David Soud and Sophie Podrog have collaborated on a new piece in CIMSEC on how marine species have become a criminal commodity, trafficked in plain sight in the Caribbean.  The article examines the overlooked phenomenon of eel trafficking - which has been tied to drug trafficking, money laundering and political assassination - as indicative of the broader problem. This piece arose out of our work with CARICOM IMPACS, made possible by Oceans 5. Read the article: HERE

November 3, 2025

As Somali piracy seems poised to resurge in the Northwest Indian Ocean, Lloyd's List turned to our President, Dr. Ian Ralby, for insights on what might be happening.  As he points out, the convergence of criminal networks, Al Shabaab terrorists, and Houthi expansion could spell trouble.  Read the article: HERE

October 21, 2025

On Trafalgar Day, our President Dr. Ian Ralby, puts forward a new argument for global maritime governance by suggesting that every state should appoint an Ambassador at Large for Maritime Affairs.  Noting the specialist needs to address maritime diplomatic matters related to security, trade, environmental protection and other key issues, Dr. Ralby suggests this would be a cost effective way to address a void in most states' national competence.  Read the article: HERE

October 9, 2025

As our President, Dr. Ian Ralby, says, the "war on drugs" is not actually a war, which means that the applicable laws are those of peacetime law enforcement operations. He shares an assessment of the legal and operational realities of the US strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean.   Hear his and other views: HERE

September 25, 2025

For years, Auxilium Worldwide has been providing leading analysis on the Houthis and their assault on global maritime commerce. To mark World Maritime Day and to kick off a monthly series on maritime affairs with the Diplomatic Courier, our President Dr. Ian Ralby has published a new analysis of what has happened so far with the Houthis and what challenges to maritime commerce still lie ahead.  Read the article: HERE

September 20 , 2025

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the West has issued countless sanctions.  But to what end?  Have they materially altered Russia's ability to wage war against Ukraine?  In this article, the New York Times quotes our President, Dr. Ian Ralby regarding the sanctions, their lack of enforcement, and the unintended consequence of having created a parellel global economy of sanctioned states and their enablers. Read the article: HERE

August 12 , 2025

Our Head of Resource Responsibility, Dr. David Soud, is quoted extensively in this excllent piece by Rebecca Tan of the Washington Post on the "global mining mafia" and how extensively those illicit flows head to China.  Dr. Soud has been tracking illicit gold flows for years and China routinely emerges as the leading state player in stockpiling gold, regardless of its origin or legality.  Read the article: HERE

July 22 , 2025

Our President, Dr. Ian Ralby, participates in the first installment of a two-part podcast with Lloyd's List, looking at the FSO SAFER.  Auxilium's team was heavily involved in generating the action to try to address the plight of the SAFER and in this segment, Dr. Ralby explains some of that history.  Listen to the podcast: HERE

July 12, 2025

Our President, Dr. Ian Ralby, sat down with Geeta Mohan at India Today to discuss submarine cable protection and China's efforts to undermine Taiwan though hybrid aggression. Our way of life is now entirely dependent on the roughly 450 privately owned fiber optic cables that sit on the ocean floor, no larger than a garden hose. They account for 99% of telephonic and internet communication and $10 trillion of economic activity every day.  Watch it: HERE

July 9, 2025

Our President, Dr. Ian Ralby, offered eight points on what needs to happen to counter the Shadow Fleet at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome. He argued for: 

 
1. A criteria based definition so that Maritime Operations Center watch standers know what too look for in identifying the "shadow fleet."

2. Operational guidance on enforcement jurisdiction and operational art in countering the "shadow fleet" at sea within the confines of existing law, including how to deal with the diversity of sanctions and who can enforce each of them.

3. A legal toolkit to leverage as many national laws as possible that might be useful in lawfully disrupting the "shadow fleet" the way that the mafia was taken down by tax laws and mail fraud.

4. A multinational agreement that, using the agreed definition of the "shadow fleet," declares the "shadow fleet's" transits through the territorial sea as per se non-innocent.

5. Caution regarding the tent problem - if we continue sanction so many different actors around the world (pushing them out of our tent), we may make more challenges for ourselves by creating a tent we can't access. The same is true for de-flagging - they may just choose to operate without flags and find ways to operate with enabling partners. Given most states' challenge of dealing with stateless vessels, this could become a new challenge.

6. Mutual legal assistance to pursue asset forfeiture and take some of the sanctioned assets back from these bad actors.

7. Care in ensuring we do not take actions that diminish the freedom of navigation such that the likes of Russia, China, and Iran use our efforts as an "tu quoque" excuse for diminishing freedom of navigation in other ways.

8. Constant reminders of the difference between peacetime law and wartime law, lest we blend them and tacitly suggest we are embroiled in a world war.

July 7, 2025

The Auxilium team spent years brining the plight of the FSO SAFER to light and advocating for a sensible solution. While it was great that the UN got the oil off the SAFER in 2023, they effectively gifted the Houthis a tanker that they are now using to store fuel and move sanctioned Russian oil. This is an excellent piece by Lloyd's List that quotes our President, Dr. Ian Ralby, in exposing this failure to understand the Houthis.  Read it: HERE