Strait of Hormuz: Historical Geopolitics and Its Contemporary Relevance for UPSC

Indian Express - Explained · 27 Apr 2026 · 2 min read
Prelims · International relations Mains · GS2 International relations High relevance

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy flows, has been a focal point of imperial rivalries from the Portuguese in the 16th century to British hegemony in the 19th century, highlighting enduring geopolitical tensions relevant to GS2 International Relations and GS3 Energy Security.

Key points

Portuguese Control (16th Century): The Portuguese conquered Hormuz in 1515, establishing a fortified tollgate to tax Asian spice and silk trades, marking early European dominance in the region.

British-Dutch Rivalry (17th-18th Century): The British East India Company, allied with the Safavid Empire, ousted the Portuguese in 1622, leading to fierce competition with the Dutch East India Company over trade monopolies.

British Hegemony (19th Century): Post-Dutch decline, the British secured the strait through naval campaigns and treaties with local rulers, transforming the region into protectorates known as the Trucial States (modern UAE).

Anglo-Persian Oil Company (20th Century): The discovery of oil in Persia (1908) and the formation of APOC underscored the strait's strategic value for energy security, influencing British naval policies under Churchill.

[GS3-Energy Security] The Strait of Hormuz handles 20% of global oil flows, making its stability critical for India's energy imports and economic security.

[GS2-International Relations] Historical control shifts illustrate how great powers use naval dominance and diplomatic treaties to secure strategic chokepoints, a recurring theme in contemporary US-Iran tensions.

Colonial Legacy: The British 'Trucial System' model of indirect rule contrasts with Portuguese militarization, offering insights into cost-effective imperial governance strategies.

Way Forward: India should diversify energy import routes, invest in alternative chokepoint security (e.g., Chabahar Port), and advocate for multilateral frameworks to ensure strait stability under UNCLOS provisions.

Key terms

Strait of Hormuz

A narrow maritime passage between Oman and Iran connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. It is vital for global energy security, with 20% of the world's oil passing through it, making it a flashpoint in US-Iran relations and relevant to GS3 Energy Security.

Trucial States

A group of sheikhdoms in the Persian Gulf that signed treaties with Britain in the 19th century, granting control over foreign policy in exchange for protection. Now the UAE, this model exemplifies indirect colonial governance and is studied in GS2 Polity's federalism debates.

Anglo-Persian Oil Company (APOC)

Founded in 1909 after oil was discovered in Persia, APOC became BP and marked Britain's shift from trade to energy dominance in the Gulf. Its history is crucial for understanding colonial resource exploitation and modern energy geopolitics in GS3.

UNCLOS (Article 38)

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea governs transit passage through straits like Hormuz, ensuring free navigation. Its enforcement mechanisms are critical for GS2 International Relations, especially in disputes over maritime chokepoints.