Maritime choke points have long threatened global energy security, yet history suggests they rarely close completely. The Suez Canal blockage in 2021 disrupted global trade but spared oil flows. The Red Sea crisis exposed vulnerabilities around the Bab el-Mandeb. The Strait of Hormuz, however, occupies a different strategic league. For India, it remains the country's single most important energy gateway.

Nearly 40% of India’s crude oil, 60% of its liquefied natural gas (LNG), 92% of its LPG and more than 70% of its urea imports transit this narrow passage. Despite wars, sanctions and repeated regional tensions, Hormuz had remained open for decades.

Its closure on 28 February therefore represented........

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