Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, ships have the right to transit international straits used for navigation. The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of global oil supply flows, qualifies as such a strait. No single country owns it. Iran borders it on the north, Oman on the south. Any attempt by the U.S. to take over the strait would require controlling physical territory or naval chokepoints in violation of international norms. The U.S. has defended freedom of navigation as a core principle of its naval doctrine.
Who controls the world's shipping lanes shapes global commerce and national security. The U.S. Navy frames freedom of navigation as a fundamental principle of international law, essential to global trade. But other nations sometimes dispute this freedom when it conflicts with their own interests in territorial waters.
People often think freedom of navigation means ships can go anywhere. Actually, the principle protects transit through international straits and waters used for commerce—not every waterway. Coastal nations retain control over their territorial waters within 12 nautical miles of shore.
Who controls the world's shipping lanes shapes global commerce and national security. The U.S. Navy frames freedom of navigation as a fundamental principle of international law, essential to global trade. But other nations sometimes dispute this freedom when it conflicts with their own interests in territorial waters.
People often think freedom of navigation means ships can go anywhere. Actually, the principle protects transit through international straits and waters used for commerce—not every waterway. Coastal nations retain control over their territorial waters within 12 nautical miles of shore.