YouTube’s What’s Going On with Shipping has a new video about this today, basically saying that the Red Sea has been effectively closed by the Houthi and we need to decide what, if anything we can do about it. U.S.-flagged vessels are taking the long way around Africa, including ships carrying supplies for our military.
What's going on with shipping is an excellent site
Is the Suez as strategically important as it used to be?
I don't know the answer. Maybe yes, maybe no. I welcome comments.
Colonial UK fought wars to add Sudan and Somalia to the Empire, to protect access to the Canal. The Allies fought Hitler in N.Africa to protect Egypt and Suez. The UK and France were prepared to go to war against Nasser in Egypt to protect it (before Eisenhower stopped them).
If its still as strategic as it was since 1860, then we are ignoring this situation at great peril.