• The Suez Canal, the SUMED pipeline, and the Bab el- Mandeb Strait are strategic routes for Persian Gulf oil and natural gas shipments to Europe and North America. Total oil shipments via these routes accounted for about 12% of total seaborne-traded oil in the first half of 2023, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments accounted for about 8% of worldwide LNG trade. Hence statement l is correct • The Suez Canal and SUMED pipeline are located in Egypt and connect the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea. The SUMED pipeline transports crude oil north through Egypt and has a capacity of 2.5 million barrels per day. Hence statement ll is correct • Both statements are correct, and Statement-II directly explain Statement I. Hence option (a) is the correct answer.