The recent Strait of Hormuz closure, though brief, signals a potential turning point for global energy. Echoing the 1973 oil embargo, this crisis highlights the vulnerability of interconnected markets. Nations are now prioritising energy security over cost, accelerating investments in domestic renewables, nuclear and even coal, alongside efficiency measures.

The Arab oil embargo of 1973 was a global economic turning point, said Princeton historian Meg Jacobs. 2026 could be too.

Saudi Arabia and UAE accelerate pipeline capacity expansion, while Iraq and other Gulf countries explore alternative networks to reduce reliance on the strategic waterway