EU’s Hormuz Strait diplomacy exposes colonial-era trade routes and energy geopolitics amid regional militarisation

Indigenous maritime cultures along the Gulf (e.g., Baloch, Arab, and Persian communities) historically managed the Hormuz Strait as a shared ecological and economic space, using traditional knowledge to navigate seasonal currents and trade winds. Colonial cartography and post-colonial state formation fragmented these systems, replacing them with militarised chokepoints. Modern EU diplomacy risks further eroding these traditions by prioritising state security over communal stewardship.

The Hormuz Strait’s militarisation traces back to British colonial control (1819–1971), when the strait was treated as a geostrategic asset to protect imperial trade routes to India. Post-1971, the US assumed this role via the Fifth Fleet, embedding the strait into a Cold War security architecture that persists today. The 1980s Tanker War during the Iran-Iraq conflict set a precedent for weaponising maritime chokepoints, a pattern now amplified by EU and US sanctions on Iran.

In contrast to Western narratives of ‘disruption,’ Gulf communities have long viewed the Hormuz Strait as a bridge between cultures, not a barrier. Omani traditions of *souq* trade and Iranian *bazaar* networks treated the strait as a connector of civilisations, while Western cartography imposed artificial divisions. Modern militarisation disrupts these indigenous systems, replacing them with extractive logics that prioritise state security over communal resilience.

Maritime chokepoints like Hormuz are critical nodes in global energy and trade systems, with 20–30% of global oil passing through annually. Climate change is altering wind and current patterns, increasing navigational risks and exacerbating tensions over resource access. Scientific studies show that sanctions and military posturing (e.g., drone strikes, naval exercises) correlate with increased environmental degradation (e.g., oil spills, coral reef damage) in the strait.

The Hormuz Strait has inspired artistic and spiritual traditions across cultures, from Persian miniature paintings depicting pearl divers to Omani *barasti* architecture designed for seasonal trade winds. Indigenous poetry and music (e.g., Baloch *saz* ballads) often frame the strait as a living entity, contrasting with Western militarised cartography. Modern conflicts have silenced these voices, replacing them with narratives of scarcity and securitisation.

Scenario modelling suggests that without de-escalation, the strait could become a flashpoint for broader regional conflict, drawing in non-state actors and global powers. Climate-driven water scarcity and energy transitions may push Gulf states to further militarise the strait to secure hydrocarbon revenues, exacerbating instability. Alternative futures include regional maritime governance pacts (e.g., inspired by the 1982 UNCLOS) or indigenous-led conservation initiatives to restore ecological balance.

Marginalised communities—such as Yemeni fishermen displaced by Saudi-led blockades, Iranian traders affected by US sanctions, and Baloch pastoralists cut off by militarised borders—bear the brunt of Hormuz’s militarisation. These groups are rarely consulted in EU or US diplomatic efforts, despite their deep ecological and cultural ties to the strait. Their exclusion reinforces a cycle of violence and displacement, with little attention to their proposed solutions (e.g., community-led fisheries management).