Iran War Shows How Trade Routes Become Military Targets

More than 80% of global trade by volume travels by sea. This makes shipping lanes vital to the world economy. The war in Iran showed this clearly. Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz to commercial ships. Washington responded by blockading Iranian ports. This is a new kind of conflict. Experts call it the "navalization of economic warfare." In simple terms, it means using a country's navy to attack or block trade routes. When trade routes become military targets, the global economy suffers. Ships cannot move freely. Goods become more expensive. Countries that depend on imports face shortages. The Strait of Hormuz is a key example. A large part of the world's oil passes through it. When it closed, energy prices rose quickly. This strategy changes how wars are fought. It also changes how countries plan for security. Protecting trade is now a military goal, not just an economic one.