Question 38 from UPSC CSE 2024 - Current Affairs (Internati onal Relations)

Question

Consider the following statements:
1. Statement-I: Sumed pipeline is a strategic route for Persian Gulf oil and natural gas shipments to Europe.
2. Statement-II: Sumed pipeline connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I

Strategy: First, recognize that the Sumed pipeline is vital for oil and gas transit from the Persian Gulf to Europe, bypassing the Suez Canal at times, making Statement-I accurate. Statement-II, describing its route from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, clearly provides the logistical detail explaining Statement-I's strategic significance. Since Statement-II fully explains why the Sumed pipeline is a strategic route to Europe, the answer is option A.

Key Info: The Sumed pipeline (Suez-Mediterranean Pipeline) is a critical oil transit pipeline running entirely within Egypt. It connects Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea to Sidi Kerir on the Mediterranean Sea. The pipeline enables Persian Gulf crude oil—which would otherwise be shipped through the Suez Canal—to reach European markets, especially for vessels too large to transit the canal fully loaded. The pipeline, jointly owned by Arab petroleum companies, has a capacity of roughly 2.5 million barrels per day. Both the Suez Canal and the Sumed pipeline serve as vital corridors for global energy flows; disruptions to either can impact international oil supplies. The region, along with strategic maritime chokepoints like Bab el-Mandeb, is geostrategically important for energy security. Oil and natural gas shipments through these routes account for a significant share of global seaborne trade, affecting regional economies and global energy markets.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Sumed pipeline is a strategic route for Persian Gulf oil and natural gas shipments to Europe. Statement-II: Sumed pipeline connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Sumed pipeline is a strategic route for Persian Gulf oil and natural gas shipments to Europe.

Statement-II: Sumed pipeline connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?