Fellow for the Middle East | Codirector, Middle East Energy Roundtable
Diana Tamari Sabbagh Fellow in Middle East Energy Studies | CES Lead, Energy and Geopolitics in the Middle East | Codirector, Middle East Energy Roundtable
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen and Jim Krane, “Maritime Chokepoints and Risks to Global Shipping and Energy Security,” Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, March 16, 2026.
Iran’s halt of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz in 2026 has provided a palpable demonstration of the risks such maritime chokepoints pose to international shipping and the global economy. At the time of writing, the Hormuz closure was diverting or blocking some 20% of the global trade in crude oil and liquefied natural gas, as well as halting exports of petrochemicals, fertilizers, helium, aluminum and other materials critical for agriculture, manufacturing and the world economy in general. Hormuz is just one of an array of global chokepoints where maritime traffic is easily interdicted. This paper analyzes the various strategic chokepoints across the globe that are most relevant to the transit of oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), with emphasis on those that most directly and critically affect major energy exporters in the Middle East. Chokepoints such as the Bab al-Mandeb and Strait of Hormuz are scrutinized because of the nature of fuel-based energy systems, as well as commodity trading critical for food supply and manufacturing, all of which require continuous uninterrupted supply chains from producer to consumer.
View the full paper (PDF).
This piece was written for a forthcoming edited volume tentatively titled “Adapting to Uncertainty: Reshaping MENA Region Energy Dynamics” being produced by the Arab Energy Forum, with publication on Springer Nature in late 2026. It is published with permission by Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. It has not been through editorial review. Wherever feasible, the material was reviewed by outside experts prior to release. Any errors or omissions are solely the responsibility of the author(s).
This material may be quoted or reproduced without prior permission, provided appropriate credit is given to the author(s) and Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. The views expressed herein are those of the individual author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
