SouthernWorldwide.com – A new proposal, backed by the United States, aims to establish a network of overland energy pipelines designed to circumvent the Strait of Hormuz. This initiative is gaining traction as regional tensions highlight a significant vulnerability within the global energy system.
The concept, identified as “ARAM Express,” is detailed in a policy memo reviewed by Fox News Digital. It outlines a proposed consortium involving the United States and its Gulf partners. The goal is to develop a multidirectional overland pipeline network for oil, gas, and petrochemicals. This initiative originates from Richard Goldberg of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.
The plan envisions pipelines extending westward towards the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. Additionally, southern routes are planned, leading toward the Arabian Sea. This strategic development would create multiple export pathways, thereby reducing the global energy system’s reliance on the Strait of Hormuz. Currently, approximately one-third of the world’s seaborne oil transits through this narrow waterway.
The “ARAM Express” proposal anticipates broad international participation. European and Asian buyers would be encouraged to invest in the necessary infrastructure. They would also be expected to secure long-term supply agreements for energy resources.
“European buyers are desperate for long-term supply resilience, and Asian customers are equally exposed,” stated Goldberg. He further emphasized that even China cannot afford the risk associated with a sustained disruption to energy flows.
This push for alternative routes comes at a time when Iran has been issuing threats against commercial shipping. Simultaneously, the United States is actively working to secure the waterway under President Donald Trump’s initiative, “Project Freedom.” These developments underscore the risks posed by a single chokepoint to global energy supplies.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global markets, sees roughly one-third of the world’s seaborne oil pass through it. With Iran threatening shipping and U.S. forces now guiding vessels through the strait under President Donald Trump’s “Project Freedom,” the White House is framing the current crisis in global terms.
“The President will not allow Iran to hold the global economy hostage and undermine the free flow of energy,” declared White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers. She described the launch of “Project Freedom” as a humanitarian effort aimed at restoring navigation through the strait.
This framing aligns with a growing perspective among U.S. officials and analysts. They believe the risk to global energy flow is not merely immediate but also structural in nature.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, indicated that Washington’s partners are already considering options beyond the Strait of Hormuz. He suggested that these partners are actively exploring long-term alternatives.
“I know our Gulf partners and allies are seriously thinking through that,” Waltz told Fox News Digital during a conference call with reporters. He was responding to questions about potential long-term alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz.
“I know they’re looking at additional alternatives to frankly diversify their pathways and diversify their economies,” he added. This suggests a broader strategic reevaluation within the Gulf region.
The idea that the Strait of Hormuz represents a structural weakness in the global energy system is not new. However, for a considerable period, this vulnerability has been largely tolerated. Global markets have historically relied on the stability of the Gulf region to ensure the consistent flow of energy resources.
That long-standing assumption is now facing significant strain. The current crisis has vividly demonstrated how rapidly disruptions, or even the mere threat of them, can impact global supply chains. This is evident even with the deployment of U.S. naval power to secure the waterway.
“This isn’t just a long-term idea anymore,” commented Rich Goldberg of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank. He highlighted the persistent threat to the Strait of Hormuz, stating, “There is a real threat to the Strait of Hormuz that isn’t going away so long as the regime in Tehran remains.”
Among the Gulf states, Saudi Arabia has made the most substantial investments in reducing its dependence on the Strait of Hormuz. The country’s East-West pipeline is a prime example of this strategic foresight.
This pipeline enables crude oil to be transported from Saudi Arabia’s eastern oil fields on the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. This route completely bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. From Yanbu, oil shipments can then be directed towards Europe, Africa, and Asia without needing to transit the chokepoint.
“Saudi Arabia has treated the Strait of Hormuz risk with planning, not panic,” observed Salman Al-Ansari, a Saudi geopolitical analyst. He described the East-West pipeline as a crucial strategic insurance policy.
“The East-West pipeline is strategic insurance,” he told Fox News Digital. “A Hormuz closure would be disruptive, but not paralyzing. Saudi Arabia has spent years reducing that vulnerability, and today it is uniquely positioned to absorb shocks and keep global flows moving.”
Al-Ansari further argued that the Kingdom’s strategy extends beyond energy exports. He believes Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a comprehensive logistics hub for the region.
“Ports, pipelines, land bridges, storage and Red Sea access are all part of one Saudi contingency architecture,” he explained. This suggests a holistic approach to infrastructure and supply chain resilience.
Saudi Arabia is not the only nation in the region adapting to these evolving geopolitical realities. The United Arab Emirates has also developed alternative export capabilities.
The UAE has established a pipeline that directs oil exports to Fujairah, a port located outside the Strait of Hormuz. This provides an additional route for their energy exports.
Concurrently, some analysts suggest that recent regional dynamics indicate a more profound shift. This transformation appears to extend beyond infrastructure development and into the political structure of the Gulf itself.
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Yonatan Adiri, an Israeli entrepreneur and former advisor to former Israeli President Shimon Peres, believes the traditional model of a unified Gulf energy system, centered on the Strait of Hormuz, is beginning to disintegrate.
“The whole arrangement … it’s starting to expire,” Adiri stated, referring to the long-standing reliance on the Strait of Hormuz as a primary artery for Gulf exports. He pointed to emerging economic and geopolitical realignments.
These realignments include the development of new corridors and the formation of shifting alliances. Adiri suggests these factors are contributing to the fragmentation of the region’s traditional energy architecture.
“The UAE stepping away from OPEC is not just about production policy,” Adiri commented, referencing the country’s decision to leave the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries effective May 1, 2026. He interpreted this move as a reflection of a broader shift towards an independent strategy.
This independent strategy involves building its own routes, partnerships, and leverage, rather than relying on a collective system. It signifies a move towards greater self-determination in energy policy.
According to Adiri, these changes are partly driven by broader global competition. He specifically mentioned efforts by the United States and its allies to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
“The entire system is being rethought,” Adiri concluded, describing a discernible shift towards diversified routes. The primary objective of this diversification is to reduce reliance on single chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite these developments, not all Gulf states are equally prepared to navigate the challenges posed by potential disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz. Some countries possess fewer alternative export options.
“If you’re Kuwait, you’re in a world of hurt,” remarked Goldberg. He highlighted countries that lack meaningful alternatives for their maritime exports, suggesting they are particularly vulnerable.
Qatar, a major global exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG), remains heavily dependent on the Strait of Hormuz. The country has limited options for rerouting its substantial LNG supply in the event of shipping disruptions.
This uneven exposure to risk has the potential to reshape regional dynamics. Countries with established alternative export routes could gain greater resilience and leverage in future crises. This could alter the balance of power within the Gulf region.
While the technical justification for developing alternative energy routes is becoming increasingly compelling, political constraints still exist. These constraints can impede the implementation of new infrastructure projects.
One of the most politically sensitive issues revolves around whether future energy corridors could involve Israel, even indirectly. The geopolitical implications of such cooperation are significant.
“As for routes involving Israel, even indirectly, the politics are extremely difficult under current circumstances,” stated Al-Ansari. He expressed skepticism about such cooperation happening in the immediate future.
“I genuinely do not see it happening now,” he added. However, he suggested that political conditions could change, making such cooperation more realistic in the future.
For the present, the United States and its allies are primarily focused on stabilizing the immediate situation in the Strait of Hormuz. Their objective is to ensure the safe passage of vessels and the continued functioning of global energy markets.
However, as tensions in the region persist, the current crisis is compelling a broader reassessment of energy security strategies. The focus is shifting from merely securing existing routes to exploring fundamentally new approaches.
Experts argue that the question is no longer solely about how to secure the Strait of Hormuz. Instead, it is about whether the global energy system can continue to depend on it to the same extent as it has for decades. The long-term sustainability of this reliance is being questioned.
If the current trajectory continues, the Strait of Hormuz may remain a critical transit point, but it is unlikely to retain its absolute dominance. This is due to increasing investments by countries in new routes, new partnerships, and a more diversified global energy map. This diversification aims to enhance overall energy security and resilience.
Fox News Digital reached out to Saudi Arabia and the UAE for comment on these developments, but did not receive a response in time for publication.
