India must seek alternative pathways to navigate the Red Sea.

The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial shipping route connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean, has seen increased tensions due to recent attacks by Yemen-based Houthi militants. The strait is vital for 30% of global container traffic and is heavily relied upon by India for trade and energy imports. Recent attacks and military maneuvers in the region have prompted efforts to diversify trade routes and enhance regional maritime security cooperation. This includes the development of alternative routes such as the deep-water port in Chabahar, Iran, to help mitigate the impact of disruptions in the strait on India’s economy and security.

The recent attacks by Houthi militants have led many large shipping firms to stop using the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait for trade with Europe via the Red Sea and Suez Canal. As a result, ships traveling to Europe must now take a much longer route around the Cape of Good Hope, increasing voyage distances by 40% and raising transportation time and cost. The closure of this critical trade link between Europe and India and all of Asia has significant implications for global trade and energy supply chains.

Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) Co-Founder Ajay Srivastava emphasized India’s heavy reliance on the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait for trade and energy imports, highlighting the potential impact of disruptions in the strait on India’s economy and security. He also noted that India may need to deploy additional naval assets to the region to protect its interests and work to diversify its energy imports from other countries in the Persian Gulf, Africa, and Central Asia.

Source .