Strategies of regional and international powers towards Socotra Island (*)

Abstract

The importance of the island comes mainly from its geographical location, which gave it geostrategic importance, as it overlooks vital sea passages, which are the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden. This site achieved for it the supervision of the navigation route between west and east in both parts, whether military navigation or economic navigation, in particular, and energy supplies through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which is the transit route towards the African continent.

Its location in the Indian Ocean has strengthened its commercial position linking the countries of the Arabian Peninsula and the countries of North Africa with the countries of South and Southeast Asia, and has made it an island in the middle of international navigation routes, making it easy for ships to dock in its ports. The geomorphological factors have helped shape its winding coasts, which provided sheltered ports from strong winds.