Article 2: India must lead in securing the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb
Why in news: Iran reportedly asked Yemen’s Houthis to threaten closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, reviving concerns over Red Sea shipping disruptions and their impact on India’s trade, energy security, and maritime interests.
Key Details
- Strategic chokepoint: The Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and carries nearly one-third of India’s trade.
- Renewed Houthi threat: Iran reportedly instructed the Houthis to close the Strait if the U.S. attacked Iranian power plants, escalating regional tensions.
- Lessons from 2024: Houthi attacks on commercial shipping disrupted global supply chains, increased insurance costs, and forced vessels to bypass the Suez Canal.
- Challenges for India: Any renewed disruption could raise freight costs, delay imports, threaten Indian seafarers, and compound the impact of tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Suggested response: India should strengthen maritime cooperation with France, Japan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, while leveraging the Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) to protect shipping.
Emerging Threat: Bab el-Mandeb Crisis
- Following the Strait of Hormuz tensions, a new geopolitical risk has emerged in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
- On July 16, Iran reportedly instructed the Houthis to close the strait if the U.S. attacked Iranian power facilities.
- The strait connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, making it a vital global maritime chokepoint.
- Regardless of whether the Houthis can enforce the threat, the possibility itself has raised serious concerns.
- The crisis could endanger nearly one-third of India's total trade, which passes through this route.
- The development highlights India's growing vulnerability to disruptions in critical sea lanes.
Lessons from the 2024 Red Sea Crisis
- During the Gaza conflict (2023–24), the Houthis launched attacks on ships linked to or bound for Israel.
- Between November 2023 and March 2024, over 40 commercial vessels were targeted in the Red Sea.
- The U.S.-led Operation Prosperity Guardian and UNSC Resolution 2722 (2024) sought to restore freedom of navigation.
- The Indian Navy played a humanitarian role by rescuing the crew of a British tanker attacked by the Houthis.
- Although a ceasefire was declared in May 2025, major disruptions had already affected global shipping.
- The episode demonstrated how regional conflicts can quickly threaten global maritime trade.
Economic and Strategic Impact
- Rising security risks forced nearly 2,000 ships to avoid the Suez Canal and sail via the Cape of Good Hope.
- Longer routes delayed imports, increased freight and insurance costs, and disrupted global supply chains.
- Egypt lost around 25% of Suez Canal revenue, while Israel's Eilat Port suffered severe financial losses.
- Marine insurers became highly cautious, significantly increasing shipping costs.
- A renewed crisis would severely affect India's trade, energy imports, and export competitiveness.
- Thousands of Indian seafarers could also face heightened security risks and employment challenges.
Why the Current Situation Is More Challenging
- The present geopolitical environment is more uncertain than in 2024.
- The U.S. is primarily focused on tensions with Iran, reducing attention to Red Sea security.
- The UN Security Council remains deeply divided, limiting the possibility of collective military action.
- China may continue protecting its shipping through separate arrangements with the Houthis rather than multilateral efforts.
- India's previous reliance on Iran to influence the Houthis may no longer be equally effective.
- These factors increase the likelihood of prolonged instability in the Bab el-Mandeb region.
What India Should Do
- India should proactively establish a naval task force with France and Japan to safeguard commercial shipping.
- France and Japan already maintain military bases in Djibouti, providing strategic logistical support.
- India should strengthen diplomatic engagement with Egypt and Saudi Arabia, whose economic interests are also at stake.
- Greater maritime cooperation can help deter attacks before they escalate into a major crisis.
- Continuous coordination with regional partners can improve maritime security across the Red Sea–Bab el-Mandeb corridor.
- A proactive strategy is preferable to reacting after trade disruptions occur.
A Rules-Based Maritime Response
- India should promote a Trade Protection Task Force focused solely on securing commercial shipping.
- The initiative should function as a maritime security mechanism, not a military alliance.
- India's Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) can provide maritime domain awareness.
- Partner navies should adopt common rules of engagement and escort vulnerable merchant vessels when required.
- The effort would reinforce India's SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision and commitment to a rules-based maritime order.
- By leading such cooperation, India can help prevent the Bab el-Mandeb ("Gate of Tears") from becoming another major global maritime crisis.
Conclusion
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a vital artery for global commerce and India’s external trade. Rising geopolitical tensions demand a proactive, rules-based maritime strategy combining naval cooperation, regional diplomacy, and enhanced maritime domain awareness. By strengthening partnerships and promoting freedom of navigation under its SAGAR vision, India can protect trade, energy security, and stability in the Indian Ocean Region.