Chokepoints - Indian Ocean Watch

The Middle East War and the Emerging Indian Ocean Crisis

Coverage Period: 28 February – 4 March 2026 1. Objective This briefing provides a strategic assessment of the transition from a localized Middle Eastern military confrontation to a systemic Indian Ocean maritime crisis. Following the unprecedented U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran beginning February 28, 2026, the conflict has rapidly transcended terrestrial borders, threatening the vital energy

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An Evergreen container ship loading at the Port of Baltimore during daytime.

Seven Chokepoints That Can Break the World: The Geopolitics of the Indian Ocean

In the age of satellite warfare and cyber-espionage, the global economy remains tethered to the physical world by seven narrow maritime “throats.” These chokepoints—some no wider than a city park—are the jugular veins of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). As 2025 demonstrated, a single disruption at these points does not merely delay cargo; it re-prices

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Why the Indian Ocean Is the World’s Quiet Center of Geopolitical Gravity

While the South China Sea captures headlines and the North Atlantic remains the bedrock of traditional alliances, the Indian Ocean has quietly emerged as the decisive arena for the 21st century. Hosting the world’s most critical trade veins and a growing matrix of great-power rivalries, the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is no longer a mere

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