India must lead in securing the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb
Geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb pose a significant threat to India's maritime trade routes. The article argues that India must take a more proactive role in securing these waters to prevent economic disruption.
Why it matters
The security of this chokepoint is critical for global supply chains and India's specific economic stability.
On the heels of the Strait of Hormuz crisis comes the new threat — a Strait of Bab el-Mandeb crisis. On July 16, Reuters reported that Iran had instructed the Houthis to close the Strait (which is between Yemen and the Horn of Africa) if the United States attacked Iran’s power plants.
Whether the Houthis have the capacity to threaten the Strait or whether this is part of Iran’s signalling to the U.S. is secondary. What is important is that this represents a risk to one-third of India’s entire trade.
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