In international politics and trade, straits always have an important position. Some special "chokepoints" such as Hormuz, Bosphorus, Malacca and Gibraltar... are always used by the possessing countries as special geo-economic and geopolitical tools to maintain their position and increase their national power.
In today's increasingly interdependent world, straits are not only chokepoints and “bottlenecks” at sea, but also waterways with strategic impacts on global trade, politics, security and cultural exchange.
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| The Strait of Hormuz is the most important gateway for the world's energy industry. (Source: Tehran Times) |
Important gateway
The Strait of Hormuz plays a central role in Middle East geopolitics. At its narrowest point, it is about 34 km long and no more than 60 m deep, but the Strait of Hormuz is the most important gateway to the world's energy industry when oil tankers from countries belonging to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) must pass through here.
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that about 21 million barrels of oil, worth nearly $1.2 billion, pass through the strait every day, equivalent to nearly a third of the world's oil. In addition, the amount of gasoline transported through the strait accounts for about 20% of the world's total consumption.
For many years, the “tanker war” has heated up the Strait of Hormuz. As the gateway for the world’s crude oil, the Strait of Hormuz has always been considered a hot spot in the spiral of tension. The Strait of Hormuz has actually become a security threat to the global oil market. From 1980-1988, up to 500 oil tankers were sunk in the conflict between Iran and Iraq.
Any disruption to the Hormuz chokepoint would impact energy prices and economic instability in the region, experts say. Iran’s geographic control of the northern part of the strait makes it a focal point in tensions between the United States and Iran. Tehran has repeatedly threatened to block the strait, a move that would have dire consequences for global oil markets and escalate military confrontation.
Malacca is the second busiest strait after Hormuz. Located between Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, this “bottleneck” strait is a familiar shipping route for international merchant ships and oil tankers. The Malacca route is the shortest route between the Middle East and Asia, helping to transport goods from Europe, Africa, South Asia, the Middle East to Southeast Asia, and East Asia. Every year, more than 60,000 ships pass through Malacca, carrying about 30% of world trade. In terms of economic and strategic value, the importance of the Malacca Strait is comparable to the Suez Canal and the Panama Canal.
For East Asia, the Malacca Strait connects the Indian Ocean with the Pacific Ocean, accounting for a quarter of the world's annual maritime traffic. Malacca is an indispensable route for regional economies, especially in the energy supply chain, transporting oil and liquefied natural gas to China, Japan and South Korea.
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| The Malacca route is the shortest route between the Middle East and Asia, helping to transport goods from Europe, Africa, South Asia, the Middle East to Southeast Asia, East Asia. (Source: iStock) |
Located on a vital shipping route, the Indo-Pacific is a power struggle, with countries like China looking to secure alternative routes, such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to reduce their dependence on this chokepoint.
Because of its importance, ships passing through here have long been the target of piracy and terrorism. According to statistics, the Strait of Malacca accounts for one-third of the world's piracy. The number of piracy incidents has been increasing in recent decades. Pirates often "lie in" in the north of the strait and tend to rob small boats or hold crews for ransom.
Bloodline connection
The Strait of Gibraltar , “tiny as a peppercorn” but is one of the shipping routes with the highest traffic in the world. Surrounded by many countries in Asia, Africa and Europe, the Mediterranean is an almost closed sea, only connected to the Atlantic Ocean through the only strait, Gibraltar. Therefore, although Gibraltar is only 6 km2 in size with a population of 30,000, it is a geopolitical hotspot in Europe, causing the UK and Spain to “talk back and forth”.
The strait connects Europe with the Americas, facilitating the transport of goods and resources. As a vital route for container ships and oil tankers, the strait’s strategic value underpins the economic stability of surrounding countries. Today, the strait plays a vital role in NATO naval operations, bolstering the Western military presence in the Mediterranean.
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| The Bosphorus is the world's narrowest strait, separating Europe and Asia. (Source: Bosphorus Cruises) |
The Bosphorus is the narrowest strait in the world, located in Turkey separating Europe and Asia with a length of 31 km; the widest point is 3.7 km and the narrowest point is 0.7 km, with a depth ranging from 33 - 80 m. The Bosphorus connects the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, with an average of about 5,000 ships passing through each year, making the Bosphorus one of the busiest commercial seas in the world. The number of ships moving through this strait is estimated to be four times higher than the Panama Canal and three times higher than the Suez Canal.
Türkiye’s strategic location allows it to leverage the Boshorus waterway to exert economic and political influence, cementing its key role in the region. These strategic routes support vital trade routes for the Black Sea states, facilitating the transport of grain, oil and natural gas. Russia also relies on the strait for access to warm-water ports and has faced significant restrictions since the outbreak of the conflict with Ukraine.
In particular, on this beautiful strait there is also the Bosphorus Bridge connecting the two continents of Asia and Europe. Bosphorus is considered the most beautiful strait in the world because during the journey at sea, people can see many historical relics on the shore, such as the palace of the Byzantine Empire, the Sophie church... In particular, this is also the last point of the once famous Silk Road.
The Bering Strait, which lies between Russia and Alaska and is visible from the United States, is a symbol of Arctic geopolitics. As the Arctic ice melts, new shipping routes will emerge, making the strait a contested area between Russia, the United States, and China for access to untapped resources and shorter trade routes.
The Bering Strait’s potential as a major Arctic shipping route could revolutionize global trade by dramatically reducing shipping times between Europe and Asia. Control of the route is central to the future exploitation of Arctic resources, including oil, gas and rare minerals.
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| The Bering Strait is a symbol of Arctic geopolitics. (Source: USNI) |
Geopolitical leverage
According to Article 37 of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea, in international maritime traffic, an international strait is a natural sea route connecting sea areas with different legal regimes such as high seas, exclusive economic zones or territorial waters with other high seas or exclusive economic zones.
In fact, the straits are economic lifelines that play a vital role in the global economy. About 90% of world trade is carried by sea, with major chokepoints such as Hormuz, Malacca and Gibraltar forming the arteries of this network. Disruptions in these straits can have ripple effects across global markets, affecting fuel prices, shipping costs and supply chains.
Straits are not only geographical features but also serve as important arteries for the political and economic life of countries. In addition to their economic importance, straits also play a decisive role in the geopolitical stability of the region. From the oil-rich waters of the Strait of Hormuz to the emerging Arctic routes of the Bering Strait, waterways have shaped the strategic global landscape.
The countries that control the straits have considerable influence and use them as leverage in international negotiations. Naval presence in the waterways through strategic straits reflects the power and ability to protect national interests. As competition for resources and trade routes increases, the protection of these straits is increasingly important, requiring international cooperative efforts to ensure the stability of these natural sea bridges that connect and exchange goods and cultures across the oceans.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/cac-eo-bien-chien-luoc-tu-diem-nghen-tro-thanh-cau-noi-294682.html
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