The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Iran’s military have recently kicked off their annual drill in the coastal area of the Gulf of Oman and near the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The aim behind these maneuvers is to enhance readiness in the face of foreign threats and any potential invasions.
Understanding the Strategic Importance of the Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz, located at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, plays a pivotal role in global energy supplies. This stretch of water sees about one-fifth of all seaborne oil trade passing through it, making it an extremely crucial point on the global trade map. The Strait separates Iran and Oman, linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea. At its narrowest point, the Strait is 33 km wide, with the shipping lane only three km wide each way.
The Role of the Strait in Oil and LNG Export
The Strait of Hormuz is the maritime route for most crude exported from Saudi Arabia, Iran, the UAE, Kuwait, and Iraq. These countries are all members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Furthermore, this route is also used for nearly all Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) produced by Qatar, the world’s largest LNG exporter.
To bypass the Strait of Hormuz, the UAE and Saudi Arabia have been exploring alternative routes, including the construction of additional oil pipelines.
UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question
A previous year’s question from the UPSC Civil Services Examination is as follows: “Which one of the following straits is nearest to the International Date Line? (2008)
(a) Malacca Strait
(b) Bering Strait
(c) Strait of Florida
(d) Strait of Gibraltar
Ans: (b)
The International Date Line (IDL) is an imaginary line on the Earth‘s surface functioning as a “line of demarcation”, separating two consecutive calendar dates. Situated approximately 180° east or west of Greenwich, London, UK, it marks the divide between the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Despite its name, the IDL does not hold any legal international status, and countries are free to select the dates they observe. In the north, the date line moves east through the Bering strait then west past the Aleutian Islands. Therefore, option (b) the Bering Strait, is the correct answer.”
