Indonesia announces Malacca Strait transit fees

Indonesia has announced a plan to impose fees on ships transiting the Strait of Malacca, one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints. The proposal, framed by some sources as a 'Jaziya' (a historical Islamic tax on non-Muslims), follows similar moves by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz and signals a potential new front in global shipping disruptions. The toll would leverage Indonesia's geographic position to generate revenue, but risks further inflaming tensions in global trade routes already strained by conflict. The announcement comes as the US blockade of Iran has pushed oil prices higher and prompted other nations to assert control over strategic waterways.