What are the larger strategic consequences of the Strait of Hormuz crisis? During my visit to Geneva last Friday, I had the opportunity to discuss this question at two events.

I gave a presentation on the Strait at a maritime roundtable organized by the Geneva Centre for Security Policy. I highlighted that we are facing long-term instability, not only in the Gulf region but also across the maritime domain more broadly. Grey-zone warfare, lawfare, and attempts to exert political control over key waterways are becoming increasingly common patterns.

It is important to start thinking about long-term political solutions for the Strait of Hormuz, including a formal, legally binding transit regime. The discussion also underscored that international law relevant to this situation remains underdeveloped, particularly with regard to straits and naval warfare. Also, questions of environmental security and the situation of seafarers currently do not receive sufficient attention.

I also presented new research on naval mines at a side event on underwater explosives at the 29th International Meeting of Mine Action National Directors and United Nations Advisers (NDM-UN29), organized by JPI Oceans. Key points:

• Naval mines are increasingly used in armed conflicts that includes the Red Sea, the Black Sea and the Strait of Hormuz;
• More and more states are reinvesting in sea mines;
• There is a significant normative deficit regarding the use and clearance of modern naval mines—the law is outdated.