FEATURE STORY
As military tensions escalate in the Middle East, the world’s most critical maritime artery—the Strait of Hormuz—has become a flashpoint for global economic anxiety. Responsible for the passage of nearly 20% of the world’s daily oil supply, this narrow waterway serves as an irreplaceable gateway for energy exports from the Persian Gulf. The article explores how even a partial disruption to this route could bypass traditional market logic, sending crude oil prices soaring due to skyrocketing insurance premiums, shipping risks, and the lack of viable pipeline alternatives. For oil-dependent nations like India, the stakes are particularly high, as a blockade would not only threaten energy security but also trigger a wave of domestic inflation and fiscal instability.
The global “order of cooperation” has been supplanted by “might makes right”, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday (February 26, 2026), blaming Russia for overturning territorial principles in its invasion of Ukraine, and the United States for weakening the United Nations and multilateralism.
During a public meeting in Kamuthi on Tuesday (February 24, 2026) to mark the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, her aide V.K. Sasikala announced her decision to launch a political party. She unveiled the party’s flag — featuring black, white, and red — which carries the portraits of former Chief Ministers C.N. Annadurai, M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), and Jayalalithaa.
As military tensions escalate in the Middle East, the world’s most critical maritime artery—the Strait of Hormuz—has become a flashpoint for global economic anxiety. Responsible for the passage of nearly 20% of the world’s daily oil supply, this narrow waterway serves as an irreplaceable gateway for energy exports from the Persian Gulf. The article explores how even a partial disruption to this route could bypass traditional market logic, sending crude oil prices soaring due to skyrocketing insurance premiums, shipping risks, and the lack of viable pipeline alternatives. For oil-dependent nations like India, the stakes are particularly high, as a blockade would not only threaten energy security but also trigger a wave of domestic inflation and fiscal instability.
