Context:
Recently, INS Visakhapatnam acknowledged the distress call & intercepted the vessel, and provided M.V. Genco Picardy in the Gulf of Aden.
About the Gulf of Aden:
- The Gulf of Aden stretches 1,000km in the Western Arabian Sea and narrows towards the Bab-el-Mandeb strait.
- It is bordered by Somalia, Yemen, Eritrea, Djibouti, and the Arabian Peninsula.
- It stands out for its deep waters, diverse marine life, and strategic location, featuring unique fauna and flora on the volcanic Socotra archipelago.
Significance for Global Trade:
- It links the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea and is crucial for international shipping.
- The Bab-el-Mandeb strait, situated at the southwest tip, ranks among the world’s busiest routes which facilitate the transit of global trade from Middle East.