“ Whoever rules the sea will rule commerce; and, whoever rules commerce will rule the wealth of the world and thus the world itself.”
If Sir Walter Raleigh, a British aristocrat in the 17th century, lived today, he would have said the same thing. Maybe even by adding an energy emphasis to it…
The world's seas possess many passages… However, there are 7 of them that are quite critical. These channels, which are referred to as chokepoints, are playing a key role in safely sustaining the global petrol traffic. Because the risk of having those passages easily blocked is leaving the world petrified. Thus, certain countries are openly or implicitly carrying out a power struggle in those channels.
Bab-el mandep
According to the 2013 data; almost two thirds of the world' s petroleum commerce is executed through sea routes. This giant trade is indigent to the chokepoints, mentioned above, in order to provide the fastest delivery and lowest cost. We know that the Turkish Straits are included in the 7 passages I've mentioned above. On top of that, in terms of volume of the petroleum passed through it, the Strait of Hormuz is the most critical point… This strait, which is placed between Oman and Iran, is of vital importance, due to its feature of providing a passage to an important amount of Middle Eastern petroleum from the West to Asia.
In terms of petroleum volume, the Strait of Hormuz is followed by the Strait of Malacca. Malacca, the shortest route that connects the Indian Ocean to the Pacific, is one of the mother lodes that connects developing Asia to Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
As for the other straits, who host the most petroleum after Hormuz and Malacca, there is the Suez Canal and Bab-el Mandep. The importance of the Suez Canal, which links the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, is already known by all…. As for Bab-el Mandep; it's the chokepoint at Yemen, where a storm is breaking out today.
While keeping their head down
The mobilization of Arab countries, with Saudi Arabia, who generally keeps its head down, being in the first place, on the matter of Yemen was remarkable, but actually not that weird; because the developments experienced in Yemen are harboring an economic dynamic as well as political and military elements. The name of this dynamic is; Bab-el Mandep….
Bab-el Mandep, which is placed between Yemen, Djibouti and Eritrea, is a transit point between the Arabic peninsula and Africa. This strait, which also acts as the southern gate of the Red Sea, is connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean and thus shortening the route that leads to Europe by days.
In other words, it possesses a critical function that speeds up the transportation between the East and West in a considerable extent…. Thus, it's a region that world powers have been focusing on for centuries. Especially after the opening of the Suez Canal in the 19th century, it's importance completely increased. As the petroleum commerce increased, Bab-el Mandep turned into a strait that provided energy flow rather than goods and passengers.
4 million barrels of petroleum every day
According to the recent data, this strait, where 4 million barrels of petroleum pass daily, is of indispensable importance to the Arab countries, who owe a substantial portion of their income to petroleum. Because, in case this chokepoint becomes blocked, it's clear that there will be great delays in the global petroleum commerce.
Let us visualize this; if that strait is blocked, then the route of the oil tankers, which would be travelling from the Persian Gulf filtered towards the West by passing from the Suez Canal, will be directly blocked. In that case, the petroleum will be obliged to cruise towards the southern end of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope, and make a detour. Is it feasible? Besides, if we think about the scenario, where the strait is blocked, in the contrary direction, then the traffic coming from the Red Sea towards Asia will be sabotaged also. This, is not feasible either.
Before Iran clutches the Arabs' throats
It's clear that the Yemen operation is conducted in order to suppress the powers, who are accepted to be supported by Iran. In other words, in order to suppress Iran…. At this point, the importance of Bab-el Mandep is also being revealed. As a matter of fact, as the Houthi forces came closer to the chokepoint, we witnessed an increase in tension. As I've stated before, there are different dynamics for sure; however, the fact that they came closer to Bab-el Mandep is also one of them. The possibility of an Iran-supported Houthis' control over the strait cannot even be imagined by the Arab countries.
Now let's also think about the other side of the peninsula. The Strait of Hormuz, the most sensitive point of the Persian Gulf, is also at the bedside of Iran…. Then, if Iran also establishes control over Bab-el Mandep over Yemen, they would be surrounding the peninsula from both sides. Neither the Arabs nor the West would allow this.
Think about the possibility of Iran, who is in a hurry to constrain the Arab world from the above by Syria and Iraq, and, from below through Yemen, having control over the seas on the sides! The Arabs would have no space to breathe.
Within the compass of these scenarios, it's not that surprising for the Arab countries to swiftly unite and interfere in Yemen. Besides, it's also not surprising for them to name the operation “Determination” Storm… After all, there is also an issue of a strait.
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