Introduction: In the 21 st century, the presence of drones, planes, satellites and long-range missiles seems to have ‘shortened’ if not downright eliminated distance as a geopolitical hurdle. Couple this with the introduction of cyberwarfare as a new dimension of modern conflict, and it may be tempting to believe that geography is no longer relevant in modern international affairs. That is not the case. Today’s global economy, while vast and interconnected, depends upon a nu

The Strait of Hormuz blockade is the second time in the last few years where military conflict is impacting energy security. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, energy trade relationships were shattered leading many governments to question how to securitise their energy dependency and buffer themselves from future shocks. Renewable energy has increased dramatically, especially in Asian countries, which has helped in the current crisis. Many countries can boast that they are s

Following US-Israeli strikes against Iran, Tehran has threatened to attack vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of global oil and liquefied gas flows  in normal times. The threat has pushed oil prices upward and raised concerns about global supply chains. Most of these fossil fuel shipments are bound for Asia, particularly China, India, Japan and South Korea. An Iranian official has suggested that Tehran is considering allowing limited oil t

Most of the current discussions around energy security is centred around the Strait of Hormuz. The conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran has disrupted the Middle East in a way that is incalculable in many sectors but access to black gold has destabilised stock markets and made many countries vulnerable to further economic shocks. A quick result from this conflict is not likely and Wall Street analysts believe that the crude supply will drop  to 12 million barrel