From the Strait of Malacca to the Suez Canal, a handful of narrow waterways determine the flow of global commerce, energy, and military power. This Strategic Vanguard analysis explores why maritime chokepoints remain among the most important geopolitical assets of the twenty-first century and what they mean for India's strategic future.

Naval power is not just about carriers and missiles—it is about access. Anti-mine warfare remains one of the most overlooked yet decisive elements of maritime strategy, capable of halting even the world’s most powerful navies. This analysis explores how naval mines shape modern warfare and why gaps in mine countermeasures create critical strategic vulnerabilities.