Rimouche, Sofiane

This study focuses on the transformative role of the Strait of Hormuz, shifting from an international maritime facility governed by international law to a strategic platform for managing hybrid proxy conflicts during the third decade of 2026. The study is based on the premise that the interpretative gaps in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), particularly the conflict between the principles of "innocent passage" and "passage through" are no longer mere jurisprudential disagreements. Instead, they have become geopolitical tools used by regional powers to legitimize disruptive and harassing actions without escalating into full-scale military confrontation. This study aims to analyze the interplay between geopolitical competition and the international legal framework governing straits, with a particular emphasis on the delicate balance between the sovereignty of coastal states and freedom of navigation.