The impact of the Iran war on the Saudi economy has been mitigated by investments in “economic resiliency,” including the East-West oil pipeline, relatively prudent fiscal policy, and the accumulation of a large stock of foreign financial assets.
The vulnerability of the world's most important energy chokepoint has been laid bare, setting in motion changes that are likely to outlast the conflict.
With an aging and largely untested fleet, U.S. mine clearing operations can restore maritime access but only under favorable political and operational conditions.
