Navigating War and Trade: What International Law Says About the Strait of Hormuz
Peace-time transit through the Strait of Hormuz is a universal right as an international strait, but in armed conflict the San Remo Manual governs naval warfare: neutral ships may transit with due regard, belligerents must not target neutrals, and may search for contraband; convoys of merchant ships escorted by warships can be risky because cargo vessels may become targets if tied to belligerent ships, and a state's neutral status can shift if its actions pull it into the conflict (as with Australia’s stance potentially affecting its neutrality).
