With the Strait of Hormuz already blocked, another maritime closure could fracture the Middle East’s remaining trade routes.
DOHA, QATAR
Qatar has called for coordinated international action to keep the Bab el-Mandeb Strait open, warning that its loss would have “catastrophic” consequences for the entire world. The warning follows territorial advances by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis along the Red Sea coast and around islands controlling access to the strategic passage.
Bab el-Mandeb connects the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean with the Red Sea and Suez Canal. It carries energy supplies, container traffic and manufactured goods between Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Closing it would force vessels around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, significantly increasing journey times, insurance costs and fuel consumption.
The threat has become more serious because shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains severely disrupted after months of regional conflict. Hormuz historically handled approximately one-fifth of global petroleum supplies and a major share of liquefied natural gas exports, including those from Qatar.
The Houthis have strengthened their position by capturing strategic territory near the strait, including Perim Island and sections of Yemen’s western coastline. They have also intensified attacks against Saudi cities and energy infrastructure, while Riyadh and Yemeni government forces prepare operations intended to contain their advance.
Saudi Arabia had increasingly relied on its East-West pipeline and the Red Sea port of Yanbu to reduce dependence on Hormuz. Attacks against that infrastructure and instability around Bab el-Mandeb now threaten the principal alternatives available to Gulf exporters.
A simultaneous restriction of both waterways would transform a regional military confrontation into a systemic shock affecting fuel prices, food supplies, inflation and industrial production across multiple continents. Qatar’s warning reflects an uncomfortable reality: global trade remains dependent on a small number of narrow passages that armed groups can turn into geopolitical leverage.
Chokepoints are narrow, but their consequences are global.