Waterways War and Energy Security in The Middle East: A Study of Strategic Implications for Iraq
the international and political journal
Abstract
The waterways of the Middle East, specifically the Straits of Hormuz and Bab Al-Mandab, are vital geostrategic arteries that control the security of energy flows and supply chains globally. This research aims to analyze the dimensions of the emerging “waterway war” as a tool of conflict and mutual deterrence within the context of the direct and indirect military confrontation between the (American-Israeli) alliance and the Islamic Republic of Iran, focusing on the strategic and geo-economics repercussions for Iraq. The study's problem stems from a central question concerning the nature of contemporary security threats facing oil and gas supplies amidst this unprecedented regional escalation and its effects on the stability of the international economy and Iraqi energy security. The threat to freedom of navigation has shifted from a geopolitical constant to a variable subject to the equations of harsh mutual deterrence. To grasp the dimensions of this phenomenon, the research relies on deconstructing the maritime security dilemma, alongside analyzing potential
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