The sea routes, between security, geopolitical criticalities, religious tensions and economic interests

Abstract

This article examines maritime routes as strategic infrastructures at the intersection of economic interdependence, security imperatives, religious tensions, and geopolitical competition. Starting from a historical and theoretical overview of sea power, it highlights how control of maritime communication lines has evolved from a primarily military doctrine into a multidimensional instrument encompassing legal, economic, and political dimensions. The study analyzes the structural fragility of the global maritime system, emphasizing the role of critical choke points and submarine infrastructures in sustaining international trade, energy supplies, and digital connectivity. Particular attention is devoted to contemporary crisis areas, including the Red Sea, the Strait of Hormuz, the Baltic Sea, and the Mediterranean, where state and non-state actors increasingly exploit maritime vulnerabilities through hybrid and asymmetric strategies. The Houthi insurgency, disruptions to submarine cables and pipelines, and recent incidents involving energy and data infrastructure are discussed as emblematic cases of emerging maritime insecurity. The article also explores national responses, with a focus on Italy’s strategic repositioning within the framework of the “enlarged Mediterranean” and recent legislative developments aimed at protecting underwater assets. Ultimately, the contribution argues that maritime routes are no longer neutral spaces but key arenas in which global power balances, legal regimes, and security architectures are being reshaped.