Hubs of global maritime trade

Straits connect oceans with each other. These maritime choke points are interfaces between international trade and security policy - and therefore have geostrategic significance.

Maritime choke points - or straits and strategic waterways - form central hubs in the global maritime transport network. They act as essential transit routes for international trade and as strategic control points in the geopolitical order. Around two thirds of maritime trade is transported via these strategically important waterways, making them essential to the functioning of the global economy. The blockade of the Suez Canal and the heightened tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have highlighted the vulnerability of these maritime corridors and the far-reaching impact of disruptions on global supply chains. The strategic importance of these waterways has increased significantly in recent years, both due to the growth in international trade and in geopolitical terms.

Due to their geographical features, maritime choke points characterise international maritime trade. Due to the natural limitations of these passages, a significant proportion of global shipping traffic is concentrated in a confined space. The resulting geostrategic relevance of these straits is based on their function as indispensable passages for the global movement of goods. A distinction is made between natural and artificial passages. Natural straits are created by