The Hormuz Strait Crisis Confirms Nodal Control Will Dominate Maritime Geopolitics

The 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis (Operation Epic Fury, launched February 28, 2026) has severely disrupted maritime traffic through the strait, with Iran deploying A2/AD systems including drone swarms, mines, and electronic warfare to render transit economically unsustainable, stranding hundreds of vessels and spiking global oil prices. The crisis, affecting roughly one-fifth of global crude oil and one-quarter of LNG flows, represents a systemic shock to global maritime supply chains.