Why is the Strait of Malacca in news? On 13 April 2026, the United States formally inked a major Defence Cooperation Partnership with Indonesia. After the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the US has now signed a defence pact with Indonesia for expanding its operational reach over the Strait of Malacca. This agreement will give the US military broader operational access to Indonesian airspace and enhanced monitoring of the Malacca Strait.
Amid the rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and other multiple global chokepoints, this defence agreement between the US and Indonesia in Southeast Asia over one of the world's busiest maritime chokepoints, the Malacca Strait, calls for understanding what it means for India. In this article, we will learn about the Strait of Malacca and its importance for India.
Strait of Malacca, Location, Bordering Countries, Map
Straits are narrow, natural waterways which connect two larger bodies of water, such as oceans or seas. Straits usually have geopolitical and strategic importance. These serve as vital shipping lanes and maritime routes. Straits are an important tool of foreign policy. One such strait is the Malacca Strait.
The Strait of Malacca is a 900 km long narrow stretch of water between the Malay Peninsula to the northeast and the Indonesian island of Sumatra to the southwest.
Acting as the main shipping route between the Indian and Pacific oceans, the Malacca Strait connects the Andaman Sea in the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea in the Pacific Ocean.
The key bordering countries of the Strait of Malacca are Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand.
The Malacca Strait is jointly managed by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. It is governed by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Why is Malacca Strait important for global trade?
The Strait of Malacca is one of the most important and world's second-busiest chokepoint, handling roughly one-third of global seaborne oil trade.
The Malacca Strait serves as the shortest maritime route between the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
The Malacca Strait is a major energy chokepoint, with about 23.2 million barrels of oil passing through daily as of early 2025, as per the US Energy Information Administration.
In early 2025, around 9.2 billion cubic feet per day of liquefied natural gas (LNG) passed through the Malacca Strait.
The Malacca Strait handles about 35 to 40 per cent of global seaborne oil shipments, facilitating the passage of 80,000 to 95,000 vessels annually.
About 80 per cent of China's crude oil imports and energy supplies to South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan pass through the Malacca Strait. Dependence on this Strait poses a significant risk to China's energy security and susceptible to potential blockades, leading to the 'Malacca Dilemma'.
Why is the Malacca Strait important to India?
The Malacca Strait is vital to India as a primary maritime trade route connecting the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea. About 55 per cent of India's trade passes through this Strait.
With the proximity of the Malacca Strait to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, it gives India a significant strategic vantage point to monitor maritime traffic and counterbalance China's influence.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India's southern island chain, located near the mouth of the Malacca Strait, which allows one to reach the strait in 24 hours from Port Blair.
India's southernmost naval air station INS Baaz at Campbell Bay on Great Nicobar Isand located in close proximity to the mouth of the Malacca Strait offers surveillance over key sea lanes.
The Malacca Strait is crucial for India's 'Act East' policy, which aims at deepening economic and security ties with Southeast Asian nations.
Also read: Which countries border the Red Sea?
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