Bab el-Mandeb Strait Under Threat, Global Energy Supply on the Brink

The threat to global energy supplies is intensifying amid rising tensions in the Middle East. This time, attention is focused on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which is at risk of disruption.

The risk of interference with traffic in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has emerged as the global oil market faces pressure, particularly due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has long been one of the world’s main energy distribution routes.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, located between Yemen and Djibouti, serves as a crucial link between the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. This route is the only direct sea passage connecting Asia and Europe via the Suez Canal, with the strait measuring just around 32 kilometres wide.

“If America wants to seek a solution for the Strait of Hormuz with foolish steps, they must be careful not to add another strait (Bab el-Mandeb) to the problems,” said an unnamed Iranian military official, quoted from Anadolu on Tuesday, 31 March 2026.

He added that the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is considered one of the world’s strategic straits, and Iran has both the will and capability to create a truly real threat to it. This statement has sparked global concerns.

Iran’s threat is not without reason. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait plays a crucial role in the global energy supply chain.

In early 2023, this route handled about 12% of the world’s oil shipments, with flows reaching around 4.2 million barrels per day in early 2025. If disruptions occur, the impacts will be widespread. Trade flows between Europe and Asia could halt, forcing ships to detour around Africa.

This situation would extend delivery times while significantly increasing logistics costs. The strait’s importance is also evident from the presence of military bases belonging to major powers such as the United States, France, and China in the region.

With growing threats to two vital routes—the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb—the market now faces broader risks of energy supply disruptions. This condition could drive a surge in oil prices and deepen global economic uncertainty in the near term.