Tarek M. Youssef and Paul D. Dyer, two researchers on Middle Eastern issues, in an article titled "It's Time to Implement the Danube Model in the Strait of Hormuz," have suggested that the technical and safety management of the Strait of Hormuz be entrusted to a commission composed of the Gulf coastal countries. This plan seeks to provide a solution to the security and economic challenges in this waterway, which has gained particular importance following recent tensions between Iran and the United States.
History and Proposed Model
The authors of this article refer to a model established 170 years ago for managing the Danube River in Europe. At that time, European powers, after the Crimean War, established the Danube Commission to organize shipping and ensure the safety of this river. According to Youssef and Dyer, such a model could help reopen shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz, especially given that the reliance of Arab countries on the U.S. security umbrella and alternative oil export routes has not fully guaranteed the economic security of this region.
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Details of the Plan and Challenges
In the proposed plan, a commission made up of eight Gulf coastal countries will be responsible for coordinating the passage of commercial ships, rescue operations, pollution control, and maritime safety. Although the United States and major commercial powers from Europe and Asia may also have advisory roles in this commission, they will not have veto power.
One of the key challenges in this plan is the issue of collecting fees from passing ships. The Islamic Republic of Iran seeks to impose transit fees for the Strait of Hormuz, while the United States and the European Union have opposed such a move. In the proposed model, the commission's costs could be covered through fees for specific maritime services, agreed contributions, or participation from member countries, without Iran having sole authority to set the fees.
Another noteworthy point is that previously, on July 28, Reuters reported that Oman, with the support of Arab countries, had proposed a regional management plan for the Strait of Hormuz to Tehran. This plan also failed due to disagreements over exclusive control.
Despite the political and legal challenges that exist in implementing such a model, the authors of this article believe that joint management could be a solution to facilitate shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Especially since this plan could be implemented without altering the territorial sovereignty of Iran and Oman.
It is still unclear how much support this proposal has from regional governments and whether there is any possibility of reaching an agreement on it. What has been presented so far is a research plan for managing the Strait of Hormuz, not an official agreement among the regional countries.
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