Red Sea: a hinge between West Asia and Horn of Africa
The Red Sea has evolved from a simple shipping route into a complex geopolitical theater where conflicts in West Asia and the Horn of Africa are increasingly intertwined. Regional instability, including the Gaza war and internal African conflicts, is now converging to disrupt global supply chains and maritime security.
Why it matters
Understanding the convergence of these regional conflicts is essential for analyzing global trade disruptions and the shifting strategic interests of major powers like the U.S., China, and Gulf monarchies.
When commercial ships started bypassing the Red Sea due to attacks from Yemen’s Houthis, the immediate consequences could be felt thousands of kilometres away in the form of higher freight charges, slower supply chains and ships taking the longer route around Africa. At first sight, it seemed like yet another disruption in one of the world’s busiest waterways, brought on by the conflict in West Asia.
However, the Red Sea crisis was not merely about shipping.
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