The article argues that the post-Cold War era of U.S. unipolarity, established by the perceived invincibility demonstrated during the Gulf War, has ended. This decline is driven by globalization and technological diffusion, which have democratized advanced military capabilities, allowing regional actors to challenge major powers. Consequently, policymakers must prepare for a more volatile international order marked by frequent crises, heightened costs for securing global trade chokepoints, and reduced predictability from American power. The new rules dictate that great powers can no longer effortlessly impose their will through force.
Hormuz Is a Warning for the Indo-Pacific
English Summary
Iran's recent threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, utilizing drones and anti-ship missiles, underscore the continued strategic vulnerability of global maritime chokepoints. This action demonstrates how regional powers are weaponizing critical waterways to exert geopolitical pressure, immediately impacting global energy supplies and prices. For the Indo-Pacific and beyond, this signals that maritime control remains a primary tool of statecraft, necessitating enhanced international naval cooperation and contingency planning to mitigate the risk of energy supply disruptions.
中文摘要
伊朗近期威脅關閉霍爾木茲海峽，並利用無人機和反艦導彈，突顯了全球海運咽喉點持續存在的戰略脆弱性。此舉表明區域大國正將關鍵水道武器化，以施加地緣政治壓力，並立即影響全球能源供應和價格。對於印太地區乃至更廣泛的區域而言，這發出訊號：海上控制仍然是國家治理的主要工具，有必要加強國際海軍合作和應急規劃，以減輕能源供應中斷的風險。
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