Monday , July 20 2026

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Russian crude continues to make up 50% of India’s oil imports in July as Hormuz risks persist

A view shows the Yan Dun Jiao 1 bulk carrier in the Vostochny container port in the shore of Nakhodka Bay near the port city of Nakhodka, Russia. | Reuters

Russian oil remains India’s biggest supply cushion, but experts say LPG & LNG imports remain highly vulnerable to renewed Strait of Hormuz disruption.New Delhi: Amid renewed uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz, Russian crude continues to dominate India’s imports, averaging around 2.5 million barrels per day (mbpd) until 15 July, and …

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Chokepoints of power: Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, and the new corridor wars

The Bab al-Mandeb Strait. [Photo/AA]

The concept of “corridor wars” describes intensifying competition among major powers over critical trade, energy, and transit routes in an era of weaponized interdependence. Unlike traditional territorial conflicts, these struggles center on controlling, securing, bypassing, or disrupting chokepoints: narrow maritime passages and overland links through which global commerce flows. Key arenas include …

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NATO 3.0 and energy security: Rebalancing transatlantic defence in Ankara

A view of the ATO Congresium international convention and exhibition center, where a part of 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit will be held in Ankara, Turkiye, on July 07, 2026. [Akın Çeliktaş – Anadolu Agency]

The 2026 NATO Summit opens today, 7th July, in Ankara, at a critical moment for the Alliance as Russia’s war in Ukraine, pressure on European defense systems, and the U.S. strategic pivot toward the Indo-Pacific intensify debates over transatlantic burden-sharing. The emerging “NATO 3.0” framework would shift greater responsibility for conventional defense, …

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Can Iran Really Impose Tolls on Strait of Hormuz Passage?

Iran believes it has won the war by asserting its control over the Strait of Hormuz.Shutterstock

Tehran Cannot Legally Redefine Freedom of Navigation Through International WatersIran proposes collecting tolls or fees from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz to generate up to $40 billion annually. According to discussions among Iran, Oman, and other regional players, Tehran has suggested charging for “security, safety, and environmental services.” The Iranian …

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