Why is the Strait of Hormuz Critical to Global Energy Flows? US Naval Blockade and Its Impact on India Explained

📌 Summary:

• Context: Since late February 2026, the Strait of Hormuz has been at the centre of a global energy and security crisis; following US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Tehran tightened restrictions on the waterway; the US then ordered a naval blockade of vessels to/from Iranian ports

• The IEA described the disruption as "more severe than the 1970s oil shocks"; daily transits fell from ~130 vessels to just a few on several days; a limited ceasefire allowed some traffic but the blockade continues

• What is a maritime chokepoint? A narrow stretch of sea through which large volumes of trade must pass; the Strait of Hormuz (21 km wide at its narrowest) connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman; ~20-21% of global oil trade and ~25% of global LNG passes through it

• Key states bordering the Strait: Iran (north), Oman (south); UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar are the main oil exporters whose shipments pass through it

• India's specific vulnerability: India imports ~45% of its crude from the Gulf region; ~80-85% of India's total crude imports pass through Hormuz; oil prices at multi-year highs are raising inflation and widening current account deficit

• India's strategic response: India has been advocating diplomacy; diversifying to Russian oil (now ~40% of imports); building strategic petroleum reserves; IEA membership gives access to emergency stocks

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — Indian Economy (energy security, oil imports, inflation, CAD); GS2 — International Relations (West Asia, US-Iran conflict); GS1 — Geography (Strait of Hormuz, maritime chokepoints)

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Strait of Hormuz: Width ~21 km at narrowest; connects Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman

• ~20-21% global oil + ~25% global LNG passes through Hormuz

• Countries bordering: Iran (north), Oman (south)

• India crude oil imports from Gulf: ~45%; through Hormuz: ~80-85%

🔑 Key Term: Maritime Chokepoint — A narrow, strategically located waterway through which a disproportionate share of global maritime trade flows; disruption creates cascading global economic impacts; key examples: Hormuz, Malacca, Suez Canal, Bab-el-Mandeb