Saudi Arabia squeezed between a blocked Hormuz and a contested Red Sea

The brief in 6 cards

1. Note1 / 6

   WHY IN NEWS?

   • A Hindu opinion piece says Saudi Arabia faces a crisis on two maritime fronts at once.
   • Since early 2026, Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has sharply cut Gulf oil flows.
   • On 20 July 2026, the Houthis declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia and have since attacked Saudi ships in the Red Sea.
   • Fighting reached the Bab al-Mandeb area in September. On 9 October, Saudi Arabia's envoy to Yemen said the strait had been cleared of Houthi forces; the Houthis did not respond.
2. Note2 / 6

   THE TWO CHOKEPOINTS

   The table compares the two straits.

   Feature	Strait of Hormuz	Bab al-Mandeb
   Connects	Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman	Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
   Bordering countries	Iran, Oman (Musandam)	Yemen, Djibouti, Eritrea
   Oil flow, Q4 2025 (mb/d)	21.6	5.4
   Oil flow, Q2 2026 (mb/d)	4.9	8.1

   As Hormuz closed, Saudi exports shifted to the Red Sea through the East-West Pipeline to Yanbu. That made Bab al-Mandeb Saudi Arabia's lifeline, and a target.

3. Note3 / 6

   KEY CONCEPTS

   1. What is a maritime chokepoint?

   It is a narrow sea passage that large volumes of trade must use. Blocking it forces long, costly detours or halts trade.

   2. What is the East-West Pipeline?

   It carries Saudi crude from the Gulf coast to Yanbu on the Red Sea, bypassing Hormuz. Saudi Arabia says its capacity is about 7 million barrels a day.

   3. Who are the Houthis?

   They are an armed movement from northern Yemen that seized Sana'a in 2014. A Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015. Iran backs the group, though it pursues its own aims.

   4. What was the 2022 truce?

   A UN-brokered truce in April 2022 reduced fighting in Yemen but did not settle the conflict. The 2026 escalation is the heaviest since.

4. Note4 / 6

   WHAT IT MEANS FOR INDIA

   • Oil prices: Disruption on both routes raises crude and LNG prices, feeding inflation and widening the current account deficit.
   • Trade costs: Ships avoiding the Red Sea sail around Africa, adding time, freight and insurance costs.
   • Diaspora: Millions of Indians live and work in Gulf countries, so evacuation readiness matters.
   • Naval role: Under Operation Sankalp, launched in 2019, the Indian Navy escorts Indian-flagged ships in the region.
   • Balance: India keeps working ties with Saudi Arabia, Iran, Israel and the US while backing freedom of navigation.
5. Note5 / 6

   WAY FORWARD

   These are the article's suggestions, not adopted policy.

   • Revive diplomacy: Restore the truce and pursue mutual de-escalation, with mediation by Oman, Qatar or Iraq.
   • Protect shipping: Support freedom of navigation through naval cooperation.
   • Prepare evacuations: Keep plans ready for Indian nationals in the Gulf.
   • Reduce exposure: Diversify oil and fertiliser sources and expand renewables.
6. Note6 / 6

   

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