Bab al-Mandab Strait
Geography and Strategic Significance
The Bab al-Mandab ("Gate of Tears") is a narrow strait connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and, through it, the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. It lies between Yemen on the Asian side and Djibouti and Eritrea on the African side, and at its narrowest point (between Djibouti and Yemen's Perim Island) is only about 16.5 km wide.
- Links the Red Sea (and, via the Suez Canal, the Mediterranean) to the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, making it one link in the Asia-Europe maritime corridor.
- Along with the Red Sea and Suez Canal, it forms a chokepoint through which roughly 10-12% of global maritime trade passes; it is among the world's busiest oil-shipping chokepoints.
- Named a global maritime "chokepoint" alongside the Strait of Hormuz, the Strait of Malacca, and the Panama Canal, all of which recur in UPSC Geography and IR questions on chokepoints.
- Controlled at its narrowest points by Yemeni territory (Perim Island, Hanish Islands) as well as Djibouti and Eritrea on the African shore.
● Tracked since July 31, 2026 · last seen September 19, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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