Nick Childs
President Donald Trump is not hiding his frustration that some of the United States’ European allies have been reluctant to heed his call for them to send ships and other forces to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He reserved particular criticism for the United Kingdom. European leaders in turn have made it clear they do not want to be drawn directly into the current conflict. The UK prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has said that allies are seeking ‘a viable plan’. But what that would look like is far from clear. And recent experiences of trying to put together maritime-security operations in this region, notably to counter the Ansarullah (Houthi) anti-shipping campaign in and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea, have highlighted the difficulties involved.
A chokepoint like no other
The latest events have been a salutary reminder that not all strategic maritime chokepoints are equal. The Strait of Hormuz may be one of the most critical.
When the Houthis threatened shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait from November 2023, the dire economic consequences that were forecast did not materialise, in part because shippers could reroute around the Cape of Good Hope. There was also sufficient shipping capacity to cope, and markets adapted. The Strait of Hormuz is different. It accounts for 20% of all internationally traded oil, 34% of seaborne oil-trade flows and 30% of liquefied natural gas exports. It is also the only maritime route in and out of the Gulf.
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