The Strait of Hormuz Closure: Another Chapter in Western Imperialism's Assault on Global South Development

The Facts: Energy Market upheaval and Regional Disparities

The recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes in late February has created the most substantial energy supply shock in recorded history. This critical waterway, responsible for approximately 20% of global oil and LNG flows, became the epicenter of a geopolitical storm that saw Brent crude prices surge by 60% in March alone. The International Energy Agency has characterized this event as unprecedented, with over 12 million barrels per day of output being shut down and approximately 40 energy facilities damaged.

The economic impact across the region has been dramatically uneven, exposing the structural vulnerabilities and advantages of Middle Eastern economies. Iran, despite being the nation that initiated the closure, saw its revenues increase by 37%, while Oman experienced a 26% boost. Saudi Arabia, leveraging its strategic East-West pipeline built during the Iran-Iraq War, managed to increase revenues by 4.3% while bypassing the Strait entirely. Conversely, Iraq suffered catastrophic losses with a 76% decline in revenue to approximately $1.73 billion, followed closely by Kuwait with a 73% drop to $864 million. The United Arab Emirates experienced a slight decrease, while Qatar found itself trapped without alternative routes.

The geographical disparities have never been more apparent. Nations with diversified transportation infrastructure, particularly pipelines and alternative ports, have weathered this storm significantly better than those reliant solely on the Strait. Saudi Arabia’s foresight in developing the East-West pipeline decades ago has proven invaluable, allowing the kingdom to export nearly 5 million barrels per day despite the closure. This infrastructure advantage, however, underscores the uneven development patterns that colonial histories and imperial interventions have created across the region.

The Context: Imperial Threats and Sovereign Resistance

U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of “severe repercussions” against Iran unless it agrees to reopen the Strait represents the latest chapter in America’s long history of coercive diplomacy in the Middle East. The Iranian official’s refusal to be humiliated echoes the growing resistance among Global South nations against Western ultimatums and conditional sovereignty. This standoff occurs within the broader context of what analysts suggest may be a strengthening of Iran’s regional position, with the potential for recurrent closures posing ongoing threats to global economic stability.

The energy market disruptions have triggered divergent responses from international actors. Some Western oil companies have called for increased investment in fossil fuels, while others advocate for accelerated transition to renewable energy. Notably, the recent $2.2 billion joint venture between France’s TotalEnergies and UAE’s Masdar for renewable energy projects across nine Asian countries suggests a potential strategic pivot away from oil dependency. However, this Western-led “solution” again positions Global South nations as recipients rather than architects of their energy futures.

Imperial Calculus and Global South Suffering

This crisis exemplifies how Western powers continue to treat the Global South as pawns in their geopolitical chess game. The United States and its allies have consistently demonstrated that their conception of “international rules-based order” applies only when it serves their interests. The brutal reality is that Iraq and Kuwait, already devastated by decades of Western intervention and war, now face additional economic catastrophe because of a confrontation they did not initiate. Their 75% revenue losses represent not just numbers on a balance sheet but the crushing of development aspirations, the elimination of social programs, and the theft of their people’s future.

The West’s hypocritical application of international law becomes particularly glaring when we examine this situation. Where were the international condemnations when U.S. and Israeli airstrikes provoked this crisis? Why does the “international community” only mobilize when Western energy interests are threatened, while remaining conspicuously silent when Global South economies are being systematically destroyed? This selective outrage reveals the persistent colonial mentality that continues to dominate international relations.

Infrastructure Inequality: The Colonial Legacy

The dramatic disparity in how Middle Eastern nations have weathered this crisis exposes the lasting impact of colonial-era infrastructure development. Saudi Arabia’s ability to bypass the Strait through its East-West pipeline—built during the Iran-Iraq War when Western powers had strategic interests in supporting Saddam Hussein’s regime—demonstrates how imperial powers selectively develop infrastructure based on their geopolitical calculations. Meanwhile, nations like Iraq and Kuwait, despite their massive oil wealth, remain vulnerable because their development has been shaped by external powers prioritizing extraction over genuine sovereignty.

This infrastructure inequality is not accidental but deliberately engineered through decades of Western political and economic interference. The fact that Saudi Arabia can maintain near-capacity exports while its neighbors face economic collapse underscores how colonial patterns of development continue to create dependence and vulnerability. The West has consistently designed energy infrastructure to serve its interests first, leaving Global South nations perpetually exposed to geopolitical shocks beyond their control.

The Renewable Energy Colonialism

The proposed “solution” of transitioning to renewable energy, while environmentally necessary, risks becoming another form of Western technological colonialism. The TotalEnergies-Masdar joint venture, while presented as progress, essentially continues the pattern of Western companies controlling energy infrastructure and technology while Global South nations remain dependent consumers. True energy sovereignty requires that developing nations not only participate in but lead the renewable energy revolution, developing their own technologies and controlling their own energy futures.

The West’s sudden enthusiasm for renewable energy in the Global South must be viewed with deep skepticism. For centuries, Western powers have extracted resources from developing nations while preventing them from developing advanced technological capacity. Now, as the world transitions to renewables, we must ensure this doesn’t become another opportunity for technological dependency and neocolonial control. The Global South must demand technology transfer, local manufacturing capabilities, and genuine partnerships rather than accepting the role of mere markets for Western green technology.

Toward Genuine Energy Sovereignty

The Strait of Hormuz crisis ultimately demonstrates that true energy security cannot be achieved within the current imperial framework. Global South nations must pursue energy sovereignty through regional cooperation, diversified transportation infrastructure, and technological independence. The BRICS nations, particularly China and India, have shown alternative pathways to development that reject Western condescension and conditional partnerships.

This moment should serve as a wake-up call for the entire Global South. Our nations must develop strategic energy reserves, diversify export routes, invest in renewable energy research and development, and most importantly, strengthen South-South cooperation to reduce dependence on Western-controlled systems. The age of accepting Western ultimatums and suffering the consequences of their geopolitical games must end.

The resilience shown by Iran in facing down U.S. threats, while complicated, demonstrates that sovereignty is worth defending. The catastrophic suffering of Iraq and Kuwait shows the price of vulnerability. And the relative stability of nations with diversified infrastructure shows the path forward. The Global South must unite to build energy systems that serve our people’s interests rather than Western geopolitical calculations. Our development, our sovereignty, and our future depend on it.