Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb
The shortest sea route between Asia and Europe.
The basics
The Red Sea links the Suez Canal in the north to the Bab el-Mandeb strait in the south, which opens onto the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. It is the shortest sea route between Asia and Europe.
The Suez Canal alone is commonly estimated to carry around 12% of world trade by volume. When attacks on ships made the route unsafe, many carriers switched to the long way round the Cape of Good Hope, which adds days and cost to every voyage.
Why it matters from India
Indian exports to Europe and the Mediterranean, and energy cargoes heading west, use this route. When ships divert, freight rates and delivery times rise for Indian exporters and importers.
Latest coverage15
France Deploys Troops to Saudi Arabia to Defend Yanbu Oil Port
Iran's Next Oil Weapon: A Two-Front Squeeze on Saudi Arabia
Israeli security officials warn Middle East risks broader regional escalation amid converging flashpoints
UN condemns Houthi strike bid on Riyadh as Yemen displacement surges past 130,000
Saudi Oil Under Siege: Houthis, Iraqi Militias Tighten Grip on Dual Export Routes
Houthis seize Red Sea ports, escalate attacks on Saudi Arabia
Houthis seize Mokha port and Red Sea islands, tightening grip on vital shipping route
Saudi Arabia Trapped as Houthis Seize Red Sea Chokepoints and Pipeline Attacks Shut Supply Routes
Saudi Crown Prince demands US strikes on Houthis as they seize Red Sea strait
Saudi Arabia shuts East-West pipeline after drone attack as Houthis seize Red Sea chokepoint
Houthis seize Mokha port and Red Sea island, tightening grip on critical shipping chokepoint
Houthis Launch Heaviest Missile Strikes on Saudi Arabia Since Conflict Reignited
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan Forge Regional Defense Alliance as Egypt Weighs Joining
Xi Links Middle East Diplomacy to Suez Industrial Expansion
Saudi Arabia Loses Its Last Oil Escape Route as Houthis Squeeze Red Sea
France Deploys Troops to Saudi Arabia to Defend Yanbu Oil Port
MoveMacron is making a calculated move to stabilize European energy supplies while managing domestic political pressure.
Iran's Next Oil Weapon: A Two-Front Squeeze on Saudi Arabia
MoveThis is Tehran's play: recognition that single-front pressure on Hormuz, while devastating, has not moved US policy.
Israeli security officials warn Middle East risks broader regional escalation amid converging flashpoints
MoveTrump's strategic move is to manage the Iran war's political liability by signaling a ceasefire before November midterm…
UN condemns Houthi strike bid on Riyadh as Yemen displacement surges past 130,000
MoveThe Houthis are executing a coordinated strategy with Iran to weaponize maritime chokepoints.
Saudi Oil Under Siege: Houthis, Iraqi Militias Tighten Grip on Dual Export Routes
MoveIran's move (via proxies) is to demonstrate that Saudi Arabia cannot be insulated from the US-Iran war—that there is no…
Houthis seize Red Sea ports, escalate attacks on Saudi Arabia
MoveThis appears to be an Iranian proxy escalation designed to compound economic pressure on the US and its regional allies…
Houthis seize Mokha port and Red Sea islands, tightening grip on vital shipping route
MoveThe Houthis executed a coordinated territorial grab—seizing Mokha, then racing to capture Perim Island and the Hanish a…
Saudi Arabia Trapped as Houthis Seize Red Sea Chokepoints and Pipeline Attacks Shut Supply Routes
MoveIran is executing a coordinated proxy strategy that creates a cascade of dilemmas for Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Crown Prince demands US strikes on Houthis as they seize Red Sea strait
MoveIran's move: Use the Houthis to methodically seize control of the southern Red Sea, applying pressure on Saudi oil expo…
Saudi Arabia shuts East-West pipeline after drone attack as Houthis seize Red Sea chokepoint
MoveThis appears to be a coordinated or synchronized move by Iranian-backed actors: Iraqi militias strike Saudi's land-base…
Houthis seize Mokha port and Red Sea island, tightening grip on critical shipping chokepoint
MoveThis is Iran's move—a proxy expansion calculated to maximize leverage against the United States at minimal direct cost.
Houthis Launch Heaviest Missile Strikes on Saudi Arabia Since Conflict Reignited
MoveThe Houthis' escalation is a calculated play for leverage on two boards simultaneously.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan Forge Regional Defense Alliance as Egypt Weighs Joining
MoveThis is Saudi Arabia's strategic move to rebuild its security architecture without a single external guarantor.
Xi Links Middle East Diplomacy to Suez Industrial Expansion
MoveXi's move is a textbook expansion-through-infrastructure play.
Saudi Arabia Loses Its Last Oil Escape Route as Houthis Squeeze Red Sea
MoveIran and its Houthi allies appear to be executing a coordinated squeeze.