Red Sea: A Strategic Hinge Between West Asia and the Horn of Africa
Prelims:
International Relations
Mains:
GS Paper II-International Relations, GS Paper
III- Internal Security
Current
relevance:
The Red Sea has emerged
as a major geopolitical hotspot as conflicts in West Asia and the
Horn of Africa become increasingly interconnected, with the Gaza conflict
spilling into the Red Sea through Houthi attacks on commercial shipping.
Highlights:
1. Red
Sea Connects the Mediterranean
Sea to the Indian Ocean through the Suez Canal and Bab-el-Mandeb
Strait.
2. It is a vital global maritime trade corridor through
which a significant share of international commerce and energy supplies passes.
3. Gaza
Conflict Spillover:
i.
The Houthis
linked their attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea to the ongoing Gaza
conflict, targeting vessels associated with Israel and Western
countries.
ii.
These attacks
expanded the conflict from the land domain to the maritime domain, disrupting
global shipping routes, threatening international trade, and further
intensifying regional instability in West Asia and the Red Sea.
1.
Sudan Civil War and Gulf Rivalries:
i.
Sudan's ongoing civil war has intensified regional
power competition, with Gulf countries
seeking to expand their influence through political support, economic
investments, and security partnerships.
ii.
As a result, Sudan has emerged as a key arena for
geopolitical rivalry, where
competing regional interests shape the country's political and security
landscape.
2.
Ethiopia's Maritime Ambitions:
i.
Since Eritrea's
independence in 1993, Ethiopia has been a landlocked country and has
actively sought greater access to the Red Sea to reduce its dependence on
neighboring ports.
ii.
Maritime access is considered crucial for enhancing economic
growth, diversifying trade routes, reducing transportation costs, and
strengthening the country's strategic autonomy and regional influence.