THE ROLE OF THE MALACCA STRAIT IN THE PAST AND CURRENT REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL POWER RELATIONS AND SECURITY ARCHITECTURE
THE ROLE OF THE MALACCA STRAIT IN THE PAST AND CURRENT REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL POWER RELATIONS AND SECURITY ARCHITECTURE

Summary/Abstract: Throughout history, one of the hottest regions in the world, South East Asia, has represented one of the highest targets for the main actors who searched for dominance on a regional or even international level. Found in the very heart of the region and of the security equations of the great powers, the South China Sea and the string of islands and straits that ensured its connections with the Indian Ocean have represented security and economic nodal points that helped spread the influence and protect the strategic interests of almost every major international player who desired to dominate the region. Amongst these, the Malacca Strait stood and still stands today as one of the core strategic points in the region and the entire world, bringing enormous satisfaction and profits for those in control of it, while at the same time representing an increasing vulnerability for the coastal states, for the major international players and especially for the regional actors. On a thorough analysis, controlling the Malacca Strait represented one of the main strengths for most dominant international players, either by directly controlling it or by imposing their influence on the strait through third parties or using military, political and commercial links. Moreover, today, Malacca is one of the most important and vulnerable spots in the entire world. The high commercial and, particularly energy dependence on the strait of both regional players and international actors put Malacca in the top of the strategic points that the international security architecture depends on.

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