CURRENT AFFAIRS | 21 APRIL 2026
CLAT GK | INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS | LAW OF THE SEA | ENERGY SECURITY
In the wake of the February 28, 2026 Iran-US war, West Asian monarchies are racing to reduce their dependence on the Strait of Hormuz — a 21-nautical-mile chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and nearly 90% of Qatari and UAE LNG must pass. Tehrans repeated threats to close or restrict passage have turned what was once an economic vulnerability into a first-order constitutional and strategic question for India, which imports about 85% of its crude — a sizable share via Hormuz.
This blog unpacks the operational bypass pipelines, the defunct ones that may be revived, the legal framework governing transit through international straits, and why all of this matters for CLAT 2027 aspirants tracking International Relations, Constitutional Law, and Public International Law.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Global oil share via Hormuz | ~20% (one-fifth) |
| Qatar/UAE LNG share via Hormuz | ~90% |
| Saudi East-West Pipeline capacity | ~7 million barrels/day |
| UAE ADCOP (Habshan-Fujairah) | ~1.8 million barrels/day |
| Indias crude import dependence | ~85% |
Operational Bypasses (Live Today)
- Saudi East-West Pipeline (Petroline) — Abqaiq to Yanbu on the Red Sea, ~1,200 km, ~7 mbpd capacity after NGL-to-crude conversions.
- Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline (ADCOP) — Habshan to Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman, ~1.8 mbpd, skipping the Strait entirely.
- Kirkuk-Ceyhan Pipeline — Iraq through Turkey to the Mediterranean, partially operational.
Defunct or Partially Closed
- Trans-Arabian Pipeline (Tapline) — Saudi Arabia to Lebanon; defunct since 1980s.
- IPSA (Iraqi Pipeline through Saudi Arabia) — sealed since 1990 Gulf War.
- Iraq-Syria Pipeline — non-operational since 2003.
- Iraq Strategic Pipeline — internal bottleneck, underutilised.
Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain have no viable geographic bypass — they are relying on strategic storage and flow management.
Constitutional & International Legal Framework
- UNCLOS Article 38 — confers the right of transit passage through straits used for international navigation. This right is non-suspendable — Iran cannot lawfully block Hormuz.
- Corfu Channel Case (UK v Albania, 1949) — the ICJ held that peacetime passage through international straits cannot be barred by coastal states. This is the foundational precedent for Hormuz.
- UN Charter Article 2(4) — prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. Weaponising shipping lanes engages this obligation.
- Indian Constitution, Article 51 (DPSP) — directs the State to promote international peace and security, and foster respect for international law and treaty obligations.
- Article 253 empowers Parliament to legislate to implement Indias treaty commitments on maritime matters.
Why This Matters for India
India imports ~85% of its crude oil; a significant share transits Hormuz, including flows from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE and Kuwait. A closure would spike global prices, strain the rupee, widen the current account deficit, and strike at the economic underpinnings of Article 21s right to livelihood and Article 39(b)s directive on equitable distribution of material resources.
Indias Neighbourhood First and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrines position the Indian Navy as a net security provider in the western Indian Ocean — the IOR is now a direct constitutional-economic priority, not merely a diplomatic preference.
Mnemonic
HORMUZ — Habshan-Fujairah (ADCOP), Oil one-fifth global, Red Sea (Yanbu via Petroline), Mediterranean (Kirkuk-Ceyhan), UNCLOS Article 38 (non-suspendable), Zero bypass for Qatar/Kuwait/Bahrain.
CLAT 2027 Angle — What to Memorise
- UNCLOS Article 38 (transit passage) vs. Article 17 (innocent passage through territorial waters) — the distinction is a classic trap in Legal Reasoning comprehensions.
- Corfu Channel (1949) — foundational case for both international straits and state responsibility; frequently cited alongside Nicaragua v United States (1986) on use of force.
- Article 51 DPSP is non-justiciable but informs constitutional interpretation (Kesavananda Bharati, Maneka Gandhi).
- Linkages: Indias G20 presidency 2023, IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Corridor), IPOI and the Quad all converge on western Indian Ocean security.
Test Your Understanding — 10 MCQs
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Practice Quiz — 10 CLAT-Style Questions
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