The world’s trade routes are increasingly becoming integral to the geopolitical strategies of powerful nations. While events such as the blockage of the Suez Canal by the Ever Given container ship, pirate attacks, and supply chain disruptions caused by Covid-19 were viewed as unpredictable ‘black swan’ occurrences, the focus has now shifted to the strategic importance of maritime choke points.

Incidents like the disruption of Ukraine’s grain exports and the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea exemplify how these choke points are now central to calculated geopolitical manoeuvring.

A powerful illustration of the importance that Donald Trump placed on maritime choke points is when he accused China, in his inaugural speech, of “operating the Panama Canal.”

He stated, “We didn’t give it to China, and we’re taking it back.”

The US constructed the canal in the early 20th century, but after years of protest, President Jimmy Carter signed a treaty with Panama in 1977 to gradually return control of the waterway, which Trump has labelled “a big mistake.”

Another important maritime choke point is the Malacca Strait. Singapore plays a pivotal role in keeping this strait clear of blockages, and it is one of the reasons that several countries are keen to maintain friendly relations with Singapore. 

Why Simon’s Town has regained prominence as a strategic maritime route

With the increasing difficulties for ships to transit through the Red Sea, the Cape Sea route, which had previously been overlooked, has regained significance as a maritime passage. This was recently highlighted by Joel Pollak, the frontrunner to become the United States Ambassador to South Africa. He told Biznews that the naval base has elevated importance due to the Indo-Pacific role in international relations and its prominence in trade and military affairs.

Rear Admiral Hanno Teuteberg, a retired Deputy Chief of the South African Navy, told National Security News in an interview that with the Suez Canal and the Gulf of Aden becoming significant challenges for ships, 50% of maritime traffic diverted away from the Red Sea now sails around the Cape of Good Hope.

Cape Town and its naval base, Simon’s Town, are not only becoming a viable commercial route but have also been used by naval vessels. A German task force, at the end of last year, he said, “chose to take the Cape Sea route instead of going directly home via the Suez Canal.”

Regarding concerns about the additional cost of sailing past South Africa, he stated, “When people say it is more fuel to sail around Cape Town, they tend to forget that it is extremely expensive to go through the Suez Canal, and they leave that out of the equation.”

How South Africa should position itself in maritime geopolitics

South Africa’s official position in navigating geopolitical tensions is that it is unaligned and neutral. However, following the Mosi naval exercises in the Indian Ocean off the South African coast with Russia and China in 2023, the government of President Cyril Ramaphosa has been accused of leaning towards the two adversaries of the West.

Admiral Teuteberg believes South Africa could learn valuable lessons from India, which has managed to maintain productive relationships with a diverse array of international partners, including those with competing interests. He suggested that South Africa should seize the moment when all the ships are coming around its ports.

“If our ports were run properly and managed effectively, they could certainly increase their profit margins significantly in terms of just repair or replenishment. There are several reasons why replenishment is not taking place and why Walvis Bay, Maputo, and Accra are doing so well. ”In terms of South Africa’s global positioning in geopolitics, he suggested that the country should adopt a neutral stance and follow the example of India and Brazil, which are core members of BRICS but “are playing both sides very nicely.”

Regional cooperation in the Gulf of Guinea

He noted that regional cooperation in the Gulf of Guinea, which “is a piracy hotbed,” is an example of how regional players, under the ECOWAS umbrella, which includes the French, US, and several other parties, have come together. The ECOWAS and the Yaoundé Agreement is “a prime example of how to do things,” he said.