Zaid M. Belbagi

The Strait of Hormuz, a 39 km-wide waterway flanked by Iran to the north and Oman and the UAE to the south, is a passage through which one-fifth of the world’s oil flows each day. For decades, it has been a strategic chokepoint, considered a critical vulnerability in global energy security.

As countries across the Middle East and North Africa region increasingly seek strategic autonomy, a delicate balance must be struck between enhancing local production capabilities and engaging in international partnerships.