What best describes the strategic significance of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb in global energy security?

• A. They are major air corridors
• B. They are major chokepoints controlling critical oil routes
• C. They are major cyber hubs
• D. They are major land trade arteries

Answer: (B)

Chokepoints that reliably shape global energy trade. Hormuz sits at the mouth of the Persian Gulf and handles a large share of the world’s oil shipments; Bab el-Mandeb connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and, via the Suez Canal, links major energy markets. Because these passages are narrow and heavily trafficked, even a short disruption can constrain flows, raise shipping costs, and push energy prices higher. That vulnerability is why these straits are central to global energy security. They aren’t air corridors, cyber hubs, or land routes—their significance comes from controlling key maritime oil routes.