❗️Gulf states move to bypass Strait of Hormuz with new oil routes to Mediterranean – The Cradle
❗️Gulf states move to bypass Strait of Hormuz with new oil routes to Mediterranean
Gulf states are exploring plans to expand oil export routes beyond the Strait of Hormuz as the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran exposes the risks of relying on the strategic waterway. According to The Financial Times, proposals under discussion include new corridors linking the Arabian Peninsula to the Mediterranean, with the port of Haifa emerging as a key potential outlet. The move reflects growing urgency among regional powers to reduce exposure to a chokepoint increasingly affected by the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Saudi Arabia’s existing East-West pipeline has allowed it to maintain steady exports while bypassing the strait, reinforcing calls for broader infrastructure to replicate this model. Officials and industry figures are now considering an integrated network of pipelines, railways, and roads designed to shift regional trade patterns away from Hormuz. Lebanese and regional contractors have reportedly already received inquiries linked to potential pipeline expansion projects.
At the center of these discussions is the US-backed India-to-Mediterranean corridor, which would connect South Asia to Europe through Gulf and Israeli infrastructure. Israeli officials have promoted westward energy routes as a long-term solution, arguing that reducing reliance on Hormuz would reshape regional power dynamics. While such plans face political and logistical hurdles, they highlight a deepening alignment aimed at weakening Iran’s strategic control over one of the world’s most critical energy arteries.
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