Chokepoints

Bab el-Mandeb / Red Sea

Bab el-Mandeb / Red Sea: why this chokepoint matters, which countries sit on it, and the latest Bureau coverage.

Why it matters

The Suez route's southern gate — attacks here reroute Asia–Europe trade around the Cape and reprice everything.

Bureau read: 5 countries sit on this passage; the highest-graded is Saudi Arabia (MBA). A chokepoint is judged by how many navies can hold it — and by the grade of those who border it.

Countries on this chokepoint

Saudi Arabia Egypt Djibouti Eritrea Yemen

Other chokepoints

Strait of Hormuz Taiwan Strait Bab el-Mandeb Danish Straits Suez Canal Strait of Gibraltar Strait of Malacca Lombok & Sunda Straits Mozambique Channel Panama Canal

Across the Bureau

Bab el-Mandeb — Strategic Chokepoint Cape of Good Hope — Strategic Chokepoint Danish Straits — Strategic Chokepoint Who won the last election in AE?Who won the last election in Albania?Who won the last election in Australia?AE — Country Profile Afghanistan — Country Profile