The great maritime routes: why are the Bab El-Mandeb Strait such a focus of Western interest?

The international community was stunned to learn on January 12 that Washington and London had begun carrying out strikes against targets linked to the Houthi rebels in Yemen. A total of 73 strikes were recorded in this operation, leaving 5 dead and 6 wounded.

Why such a decision?

For a quick reminder, freedom of navigation is a fundamental right that allows states, whether coastal or landlocked, to access the sea and use it for various activities. This right is governed by rules of international and domestic law, which define the legal regime of the sea. Freedom of navigation is codified and accepted as an international right by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. But this freedom of navigation has been under threat ever since Yemen’s Houthis group began launching attacks against commercial shipping lanes in the Red Sea. They say they are targeting commercial vessels they suspect of being linked to Israel, claiming to be acting in solidarity with the Gaza Strip, the scene of a devastating war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.

This situation is seriously disrupting international maritime trade, as 12℅ of the world’s trade passes through this area, which gives access to Europe and the west coast of Africa.

The Bab El-Mandeb Strait is located on the Arabian Peninsula, linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden; 28 km wide at its narrowest point, this strait is the compulsory shipping lane for all ships crossing the Gulf of Aden to Europe. Any obstacle to navigation in this strait would have repercussions on world trade, in particular on oil and gas supplies, but also on the export of manufactured goods from China and other parts of Asia.

The threat of blocking the Bab El-Mandeb is therefore one to be taken very seriously, as this shipping lane is very busy and its economic stakes are of the utmost importance. For the time being, shipping giants such as MSC, CMA-CGM, MAERSK and Hapag-Lloyd have decided not to use this passage, which is not without consequences in terms of lost time, fuel and insurance.

This rate increase will also have repercussions on freight costs, as it involves bypassing Africa. Fans will therefore factor these additional costs into their freight rates, and it is the ultimate consumer who will pay the price. The situation is reminiscent of the Evergreen episode, whose grounding in the Suez Canal for 6 days resulted in an estimated $9.6 billion loss to the world economy.

The Bab El-Mandeb Strait is much more than just a stretch of water, it is a vital link in the world’s shipping routes.

By Fulgence Zinsou, Maritimafrica correspondent in Benin