US Announces Multinational Force to Protect Red Sea Trade from Houthi Attacks
The United States has declared the initiation of a multinational force aimed at safeguarding trade in the Red Sea following a series of attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on commercial vessels, ultimately leading to the suspension of operations by various shipping companies.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed on Monday that Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Seychelles, and the United Kingdom are among the countries joining the 10-nation “multinational security initiative.”
Austin emphasized that nations seeking to preserve the foundational principle of freedom of navigation must collaborate to address the challenges posed by non-state actors. He described the attacks as an issue necessitating collective action.
This announcement comes after both the US and UK navies reported that their destroyers had successfully intercepted a total of 15 drones in the waterway.
The Iran-aligned Houthis have intensified their drone and missile attacks on vessels in major shipping lanes since the beginning of the Gaza conflict, with a focus on ships suspected to have affiliations with Israel or Israelis.
In response to these events, the rebel group claimed responsibility for launching naval drones targeting Norwegian-owned Swan Atlantic and MSC Clara, stating that the attacks were meant to display solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
However, Swan Atlantic’s owner, Inventor Chemical Tankers of Norway, clarified that the vessel had no links to Israel and was operated by a Singaporean company. Fortunately, no injuries were reported from either vessel.
Senior Houthi official and spokesperson Mohammed al-Bukhaiti stated they would confront any US-led coalition in the Red Sea.
Moreover, it is anticipated that the coalition would expand to include additional Arab nations, including Egypt and Jordan, due to their vested interests in ensuring safe passage for ships.
Several major shipping companies, including Mediterranean Shipping Company, CMA CGM, Maersk, and BP, have halted transits through the Red Sea due to safety concerns. As a result, Houthi attacks have caused a significant rerouting of global trade, leading to higher costs and delays in the delivery of energy, food, and other consumer goods.
Approximately 12 percent of global trade flows through the Red Sea channel, connecting to the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal, with 30 percent of container traffic passing through the region. These recent developments have prompted diplomatic engagement to address maritime security issues and avoid further conflict.