Bab el-Mandeb: The narrow strait that could trigger the next global trade shock

Apr 5, 2026 | 19:39 IST

With tensions rising near the Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb — another maritime chokepoint — is coming into focus over fears that it could become the next shipping lane to be targeted, especially with the entry of the Houthi group into the current conflict. For India, the repercussions will be significant

A 30-kilometre-wide stretch of water at the southern edge of the Red Sea could emerge as the next flashpoint in a widening West Asia conflict. This could have direct consequences for India, where a significant share of trade depends on this route.

As risks to the Strait of Hormuz — through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil flows — continue, global energy and trade are increasingly leaning on another chokepoint: the Bab el-Mandeb strait.

TOI

TOI

Bab el-Mandeb: The narrow strait that could trigger the next global trade shock

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TOI

Bab el-Mandeb: The narrow strait that could trigger the next global trade shock

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