How An Indian Amla Tree Gave The Strait Of Malacca Its Name

The Strait of Malacca has once again drifted into geopolitical conversation. As tensions simmer around the Strait of Hormuz, a fresh United States-Indonesia defence arrangement has prompted speculation that Washington may be widening its strategic gaze eastwards. The Malacca passage, linking the Indian Ocean to the Pacific, is no mere alternative corridor. It is a central artery of global commerce. Unlike Hormuz, which is overwhelmingly about oil, Malacca carries everything: crude, yes, but also electronics, machinery, coal, palm oil, and the innumerable goods that underpin modern economies. Its narrow stretches make it a potential bottleneck. Its sheer traffic, often exceeding…