World
The scramble for the open seas: Is global order collapsing?
The scramble for the open seas is accelerating as global powers increasingly challenge established maritime governance norms. While most land is partitioned into national territories, the oceans have historically remained a shared global commons protected by multilateral treaties. However, recent disruptions in the Bab el Mandeb Strait and threats to tolling in the Strait of Hormuz signal a breakdown in this order. As nations jockey for control over critical minerals, Arctic shipping routes, and strategic chokepoints, the risk of seaborne conflict grows. This article examines the erosion of UNCLOS and the geopolitical implications of a world where oceans are carved up like land.
1m ago
