U.S.-led coalition’s plan to protect Red Sea shipping vessels raises concerns
Shipping companies are reportedly facing uncertainty as details remain unclear about the U.S.-led coalition announced this week to protect vessels transiting the Red Sea. The move comes in response to recent attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen.
According to sources including shipping and maritime security officials, little is known about the logistics and operations of the coalition. Corey Ranslem, chief executive of British maritime risk advisory and security company Dryad Global, told Reuters, “There are still a number of unknowns with the coalition. We don’t know exactly how many warships will be involved, how long it will take those vessels to get to the region, or their rules of engagement and the actual protection scheme that will be put in place.”
Ranslem also added, “Globally this is a fairly small area, however providing protection to commercial vessels in this region could be a major undertaking depending on the number of vessels along with any changes to the Houthi tactics.”
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the operation, named Prosperity Guardian, on Tuesday, stating that it aims to address security challenges in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The coalition includes countries such as the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain.
However, concerns remain about the effectiveness of the coalition’s protection. A source quoted by Reuters questioned, “Will they do anything except swat the missiles out of the sky? If that’s all, then will it give the assurances that are needed for shipping companies? We don’t know yet.”
The uncertainty surrounding the coalition raises questions about the impact on shipping and the protection of vessels in the region. With little clarity on the details and operations of the U.S.-led coalition, the shipping industry is left in the dark, unsure of the support and protection it will receive.