Maritime Chokepoints and India's Strategic Geography
India's peninsula geography makes it inherently dependent on sea lanes. Over 90% of India's trade by volume and 70% by value moves through maritime routes. Two chokepoints are critical in the West Asia context:
The Strait of Hormuz (between Iran and Oman) is the gateway for Gulf oil, gas, and petrochemical exports. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait (between Yemen and Djibouti/Eritrea) connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is the route for India-Europe trade. Houthi attacks in the Red Sea (from late 2023) had already disrupted Bab el-Mandeb traffic before the Iran escalation added Hormuz risks simultaneously.
- Strait of Hormuz: ~33 km wide at narrowest; 20 million b/d crude transits it
- Bab el-Mandeb: connects Red Sea to Indian Ocean; Houthi-linked disruptions since late 2023 diverted ships via Cape of Good Hope
- Cape of Good Hope rerouting: adds ~15-20 days; freight rates approximately doubled during 2024 Red Sea crisis
- India's own strategic location on the Indian Ocean Rim gives it significant influence — but also exposure — to disruptions in these lanes
● Tracked since March 02, 2026 · last seen June 20, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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