For decades, energy traders have feared a crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which a substantial share of the world’s oil supplies passes. Any disruption to this vital route threatens to send oil prices soaring, increase shipping and insurance costs, and destabilize global energy markets. Recent tensions have brought these risks into sharp focus, highlighting the importance of alternative export routes and Saudi Arabia’s growing role in safeguarding the international energy supply chain.
At the centre of this challenge is Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline, an essential piece of infrastructure that transports crude oil from the Kingdom’s eastern oilfields to Yanbu on the Red Sea. By providing an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, the pipeline offers Saudi Arabia a strategic advantage when maritime routes in the Gulf are threatened. It also strengthens the importance of the Red Sea and the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, a critical passage connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean.
The significance of this alternative route extends far beyond Saudi Arabia. When the Strait of Hormuz becomes inaccessible, the ability to transport oil through the Red Sea can help reduce supply disruptions and ease pressure on international markets. However, the growing importance of this corridor also exposes it to security threats, including attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement on commercial vessels.
The legal framework governing international waterways is clear in its central principle: ships engaged in lawful navigation must be able to pass through international straits without unlawful interference.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) establishes the principle of transit passage through straits used for international navigation. Coastal states are generally prohibited from obstructing or suspending this passage. Saudi Arabia ratified the convention in 1996, while Iran has signed but not ratified it. Although disagreements remain over the precise application of certain provisions, the principle of protecting international navigation is widely recognized.
The 1949 Corfu Channel case, decided by the International Court of Justice, also established an important precedent concerning the rights of ships passing through international straits. The judgment reinforced the principle that states cannot arbitrarily prevent peaceful maritime passage through waterways used for international navigation.
These principles are relevant to the security challenges surrounding Bab Al-Mandab. Attacks against commercial shipping threaten not only the interests of individual countries but also the stability of global trade. Such attacks cannot be justified simply by political disagreements or regional conflicts. At the same time, any military response must comply with applicable international law, including the rules governing the use of force and the protection of civilians.
The United Nations Security Council has repeatedly addressed threats to commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Resolution 2216, adopted in 2015, imposed an arms embargo targeting the Houthi leadership and reaffirmed support for Yemen’s legitimate government. In January 2024, Resolution 2722 condemned Houthi attacks on commercial vessels and demanded that the attacks cease.
These measures provide an important foundation for international efforts to protect maritime navigation. The 1988 Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation, together with its 2005 Protocol, also establishes legal mechanisms for addressing serious offences against maritime safety and certain activities involving weapons.
Nevertheless, international resolutions and legal instruments are effective only when states cooperate to implement them. Preventing attacks requires intelligence sharing, enforcement of arms restrictions, coordinated maritime surveillance and diplomatic engagement with regional and international partners.
Saudi Arabia has both a strategic interest and a practical role in these efforts. Its geographic position, energy infrastructure and influence in the region make it an important participant in initiatives aimed at securing the Red Sea.
Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline illustrates why investment in alternative infrastructure is essential to energy security. Projects that appear costly during periods of stability can become indispensable when conventional export routes are disrupted.
The pipeline allows the Kingdom to redirect significant volumes of crude oil towards Red Sea export terminals, reducing its dependence on the Strait of Hormuz. Although its capacity cannot replace all Gulf oil exports, it provides a valuable buffer against supply shocks.
This flexibility can also strengthen Saudi Arabia’s economic position. During periods of market disruption, reliable access to export facilities becomes especially valuable to buyers seeking secure supplies. However, higher oil prices are not an unqualified benefit: they can increase inflation, raise transportation costs and place additional pressure on oil-importing economies.
For Saudi Arabia, therefore, the long-term objective should be to maintain reliable exports while preventing regional instability from undermining its economic and diplomatic interests.
The Kingdom’s diplomatic initiatives also deserve attention. Established in 2020, the Council of Arab and African States Bordering the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden provides a regional framework for cooperation among coastal states. Greater coordination through this forum could support information exchange, maritime monitoring, emergency response and efforts to protect vital shipping lanes.
The security of Bab Al-Mandab is not solely a Saudi concern. Countries throughout the Gulf, including Kuwait and other oil-producing states, depend on uninterrupted access to international markets. Disruptions to maritime traffic can affect energy revenues, global commodity prices and the cost of essential goods.
Regional governments should therefore strengthen cooperation with Saudi Arabia while pursuing a broader international strategy. Priorities should include enforcing existing arms restrictions, supporting lawful maritime security operations, protecting commercial vessels and addressing the political conditions that sustain conflict in Yemen.
It is equally important to recognize that maritime security cannot be separated entirely from the wider regional conflict. Sustainable stability requires diplomatic efforts alongside security measures. Military action alone cannot guarantee the long-term safety of shipping routes.
Any counteroffensive or enforcement operation near Bab Al-Mandab should consequently be assessed on its legal basis, necessity, proportionality and likely impact on civilians and regional stability.
The vulnerability of the Strait of Hormuz has demonstrated the importance of alternative energy corridors. Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline and its Red Sea ports provide a valuable means of maintaining oil exports when traditional routes are threatened. Yet the effectiveness of this alternative depends on the security of Bab Al-Mandab and the wider Red Sea.
International law provides a foundation for protecting freedom of navigation, while United Nations resolutions offer mechanisms for addressing threats to commercial shipping. The challenge is to translate these principles into effective cooperation, lawful enforcement and lasting regional stability.
Saudi Arabia’s strategic importance is therefore not limited to its oil reserves or production capacity. Its infrastructure, geography and diplomatic influence place it in a position to contribute significantly to global energy security. By working with regional partners and the international community, the Kingdom can help protect essential maritime routes and reduce the risks posed by future disruptions.
Ultimately, keeping global oil supplies moving requires more than pipelines and ports. It requires a commitment to international law, collective responsibility and a maritime order in which commercial vessels can navigate safely, regardless of the political tensions surrounding them.
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