Chokepoints

Strait of Malacca

Strait of Malacca: why this chokepoint matters, which countries sit on it, and the latest Bureau coverage.

Why it matters

The busiest shipping lane on Earth; the jugular of East Asian trade.
The busiest lane on Earth and China's 'Malacca dilemma' — the reason for pipelines, ports and the Belt and Road's maritime half.

Bureau read: 3 countries sit on this passage; the highest-graded is Singapore (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

Singapore Indonesia Malaysia

Other chokepoints

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

Across the Bureau

Bab el-Mandeb — Strategic Chokepoint Bab el-Mandeb / Red Sea — Strategic Chokepoint Cape of Good Hope — 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