Littoral states to keep Malacca and Singapore straits free and open
- Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia reaffirmed their commitment to keep the Straits of Malacca and Singapore free and open as shipping ponders consequences for other crucial waterways
- Southeast Asia’s stable geopolitical environment has been a key driver in keeping the SOMS free and open
- Use of Article 43 in the SOMS could be a ‘beacon’ for other waterways, especially when it is being used as a means to impose tolls, WSC says
Conflict in Hormuz did little to dampen transits through the SOMS in the first half of the year. But a throttle in this crucial waterway could trigger a bigger impact than Hormuz on global trade
