ALFATH: Bab el-Mandeb Strait

Bab el-Mandeb Strait: The Gateway of International Navigation and the Axis of Geopolitical Conflicts

Introduction

In the complex geographical fabric of our planet, certain locations stand out as major lifelines for the global economy and human communication. Perhaps the most prominent and sensitive of these locations is the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This narrow waterway, separating the continents of Africa and Asia and connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, is not just a mere water body, but a first-class strategic artery. It is a major gateway for global trade, a vital corridor for international supply chains, and an arena where the political, military, and security interests of the region and the world intersect. This topic reviews the geographical, historical, economic, and military importance of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and delves into the challenges and conflicts that make it a permanent hotspot in the contemporary geopolitical landscape.

Section One: Geographical Location and Natural Importance

First: Location and Naming

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is located in southwest Asia and northeast Africa, connecting the Red Sea (to the north) with the Gulf of Aden (to the south), which is part of the Indian Ocean. It is bordered on the Asian coast by Yemen (to the east) and on the African coast by Djibouti and Eritrea (to the west). The narrowest distance in the strait is about 29 kilometers (18 miles) between Ras Menheli in Yemen and Ras Siyyan in Djibouti.

As for the reason for the name "Bab el-Mandeb," it dates back to the great challenges faced by ancient navigators due to strong sea currents and fierce winds, making crossing it fraught with danger, as if it were a "gate of lamentation" or people would weep for their loved ones fearing drowning. Some accounts also refer to an ancient legend of a great earthquake that split the earth at this location, separating the continents, and the Arabs kept lamenting their fate.

Second: Geographical Division of the Strait

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait does not constitute a single navigation channel; rather, it is divided into two main passages separated by the island of "Perim" (also known as "Mayyun"), which is currently under Yemeni control and is considered a strategic point par excellence. These two passages are:

• Bab Iskander (The Western Channel): It is about 26 km wide and deep enough for navigation (reaching 310 meters), and it is the main passage used for the transit of giant ships and oil tankers towards the Red Sea and back.
• Daqat al-Mayun (The Eastern Channel): It is only about 3 km wide, but it is shallow (not exceeding 30 meters in depth in some areas), making it unsuitable for large ship navigation, and its traffic is limited to small boats and fishermen.

This division makes control over Perim Island or the surrounding coasts, especially the Djiboutian coast, crucial for controlling navigation through the entire strait.

Section Two: Historical Importance of the Strait

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait played a pivotal role in the history of the region, serving as a passage for human migrations, trade, and cultures throughout the ages.

• The Ancient Crossing: Anthropological theories suggest that the Bab el-Mandeb region was one of the main crossings used by early humans in their migration from Africa to Asia and other parts of the world.
• The Ancient Trade Route: The trade in frankincense, myrrh, spices, slaves, and gold flourished between the southern Arabian Peninsula, the Horn of Africa, and the Mediterranean coasts via this strait. Kingdoms such as Saba and Himyar in Yemen, and the Aksumite Kingdom in Ethiopia, competed and traded through this vital passage, and the region witnessed significant demographic and cultural intermingling.
• Colonial Presence: With the discovery of the Cape of Good Hope, the strait's importance temporarily declined, but the construction of the Suez Canal in 1869 restored its global strategic status. The colonial powers at the time, such as Britain, France, and Italy, rushed to extend their influence over its coasts to secure their shipping routes to their colonies in Asia and the Far East. Britain controlled Aden and Perim Island, while France controlled Djibouti (then French Somaliland), and Italy controlled parts of Eritrea.

Section Three: Global Economic and Commercial Importance

In the modern era, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait represents one of the most important waterways in the world. Its economic importance can be summarized in the following points:

• The World's Energy Artery: The strait is a vital corridor for exporting oil and liquefied natural gas from the Arabian Gulf region to European and American markets. Millions of barrels of crude oil and its products pass through it daily. Any threat to navigation in it would disrupt a large part of global energy supplies, causing a crazy spike in oil prices and triggering a global economic shock.
• The Main Maritime Trade Route: It is an integral part of the fastest sea route linking Europe with Asia and the Indian Ocean. Most of the trade movement between the Mediterranean and European ports on one side, and the ports of East Africa, the Arabian Gulf, India, and Southeast Asia on the other, passes through the Suez Canal, then the Red Sea, then Bab el-Mandeb. Estimates indicate that about 10-15% of total global trade passes through this strait.
• International Supply Chains: In today's globalized world, factories and companies worldwide rely on precise and just-in-time supply chains. Any disruption in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait leads to delays in the arrival of goods, raw materials, and finished products, costing the global economy huge losses and disrupting production.
• Economic Revenues for Neighboring Countries: Ship passage generates significant financial revenues for the countries bordering the strait through transit fees (as is the case with the Suez Canal) or by providing supply, maintenance, and bunkering services, in addition to boosting local trade in nearby ports. Countries like Djibouti seek to invest their strategic location to become a regional logistical and economic hub.

Section Four: Military and Strategic Importance (The Race for Bases)

The military importance of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is no less than its economic importance; perhaps it even surpasses it in light of current regional tensions. Whoever controls the strait possesses a major pressure card in any regional or international conflict.

• A Military Chokepoint: The strait is considered a strategic "chokepoint," where any small force or non-state actor armed with relatively inexpensive weapons (such as explosive speedboats, naval mines, and coastal missiles) can disrupt navigation in this narrow passage, threatening the national security of major powers and the global economy.
• The Race for Military Bases: The military importance is evident in the frantic race to establish military bases on the African coasts of the strait, especially in Djibouti, which has become the largest gathering of foreign military bases in the world. It hosts American (Camp Lemonnier), French, Japanese (Japan's first overseas base since World War II), Chinese (China's first overseas military base), Italian, Spanish, and German bases. This dense military presence reflects the strait's importance in the defensive and offensive strategies of major powers, turning it into an arena for international competition.
• Importance for Regional Powers: Israel considers the Bab el-Mandeb Strait a vital area for its national security, because any threat to it threatens the access of ships heading to the port of Eilat on the Red Sea, thus striking part of its trade. The Houthi control over the Yemeni side of the strait and their ability to target ships posed a direct security and military challenge to Israel and Western countries. The Arab Gulf states also consider it the main artery for their oil exports towards the West, and seek to secure it as part of their comprehensive strategy.

Section Five: Contemporary Geopolitical Challenges and Conflicts

In recent decades, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has witnessed a series of events and tensions that have kept it constantly in the global spotlight:

• The Conflict in Yemen (2015-present): The Houthi control over the western Yemeni coast, including parts of the coast opposite the strait, represented a major turning point. The Houthis, with Iranian support, were able to threaten international navigation in the strait as part of their military strategy. They targeted commercial and warships, planted naval mines, forcing international naval forces to deploy heavily in the area. The conflict also turned the strait into a direct line of contact between the Saudi-led Arab coalition and the UAE on one side, and the Houthis and Iran on the other.
• The War on Gaza (2023-present): The recent period witnessed a dangerous escalation, as the Houthis began targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb that they claim are linked to Israel or heading to it, in solidarity with the Gaza Strip. This escalation led to a major crisis in global navigation, as major shipping companies were forced to divert their ships away from Bab el-Mandeb and the Suez Canal to take the longer and more expensive route around the Cape of Good Hope. The US, Britain, and their allies responded by forming a military coalition (Operation Prosperity Guardian) and launching airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, opening a new front in the regional conflict.
• Maritime Piracy: Somali piracy activities in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean posed a threat to navigation in Bab el-Mandeb for over a decade, prompting the formation of international naval forces to protect ships.
• Other Regional Tensions: Any tension between the Horn of Africa countries (such as Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, and Somalia) directly or indirectly affects the stability of the region surrounding the strait.
• Environmental Disasters and Non-Traditional Security Threats: The movement of giant oil tankers poses a significant risk to the marine environment of the Red Sea; any collision, grounding, or terrorist attack could cause an environmental catastrophe affecting the coasts of several countries. The increasing ship traffic also raises the likelihood of maritime accidents.

Conclusion

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait remains more than just a point on the map; it is a historical crossing, a global economic artery, and a heated geopolitical conflict zone. The future of this strait is closely linked to the stability of the entire region, from Yemen to the Horn of Africa, and from the Arabian Gulf to the Mediterranean. The fragile balance upon which navigation in it rests is easily shattered amidst regional and international conflicts.

Maintaining the security and safety of navigation in Bab el-Mandeb requires unprecedented international and regional cooperation. This cooperation must go beyond immediate military solutions to address the root causes of conflicts in the region, especially in Yemen, and work towards building economic and development partnerships that bring stability to the peoples of the region. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the gateway of tears and hopes, will remain a true test of the international community's ability to manage one of the world's most important waterways in a world teeming with conflicts and challenges. Its stability is the stability of global trade and energy security, and its primary goal must be the benefit of all humanity, not a card in the game of nations.

A study on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait