Why One Red Sea Strait Matters to Global Trade: Wurmser
Aircraft carrier on sea at sunset
How do the Houthis, Iran and regional rivalries shape the struggle over the Red Sea? In this Middle East Dispatch, David Wurmser, Senior Analyst for Middle East Affairs at the Center for Security Policy, examines the strategic importance of Bab al-Mandeb and Hormuz, the risks to maritime trade and oil flows, and the U.S. Navy’s role in protecting freedom of navigation. Wurmser connects the geography of these waterways to the politics of Yemen, Somaliland, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Israel, Turkey and Pakistan. He offers his assessment of Iran’s relationship with the Houthis, the competing regional alliances, and the choices facing U.S. policymakers. Animated maps and dated archival material provide geographic and historical context.
Watch the segment below:
- David Wurmser on NTD News to talk Iran - October 27, 2026
- Decision Time in Jerusalem: Inside Israel’s Election - October 22, 2026
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