The Bab el-Mandeb strait, a narrow maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean, has fallen under effective control of Houthi militants backed by Iran. Though situated more than 3,000 kilometres from India's western coastline, the implications for New Delhi are immediate and severe. Approximately 60 percent of India's crude oil imports pass through this route, making any disruption a direct hit on the country's energy security. Analysts warn that the conflict could force commercial vessels onto longer, costlier detours around the Cape of Good Hope, adding billions of dollars to India's shipping bills annually.
India is also among the top consumers of goods transiting through the Suez Canal, which lies just north of the Red Sea. Container traffic carrying everything from electronics to pharmaceuticals faces delays, insurance premium hikes, and routing uncertainty. The Ministry of External Affairs has expressed concern over the rising violence in the region, while the Indian Navy has increased patrols in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden to safeguard its fleet and merchant mariners.
The Houthi movement, formally known as Ansar Allah, seized control of key sections of Yemen's coastline in 2023 after ousting pro-government forces with Iranian support. Their ability to launch drones and missiles at passing ships has turned what was once a predictable trade corridor into a high-risk zone. Global shipping giants including Maersk and MSC have suspended services through the Red Sea since late 2023, citing safety concerns.
For India, the strategic calculus is complicated. New Delhi maintains a careful diplomatic balance with both Iran and the United States, while depending heavily on Middle Eastern energy supplies. Any prolonged instability at Bab el-Mandeb would not only raise fuel prices for Indian consumers but also accelerate the urgency for domestic renewable energy expansion and alternative import corridors such as the Chabahar Port in Iran and the Indian-owned facilities in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.
