Phase IFoundation
Background
Overview
Strategic maritime choke points are crucial for global trade, energy security, and international geopolitics. Disruptions in these areas can have profound economic and security implications worldwide, making them a recurring theme in UPSC's examination of international relations and economic geography.
Maritime choke points are narrow channels or passages along widely used global sea routes, such as straits or canals, that are critical for international maritime trade and energy transport. The Strait of Hormuz is one such vital waterway, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.