The Impact of Houthi Attacks in the Red Sea: Biden’s Response and International Support for Naval Action

2024-01-12 01:59:14

The president of the United States, Joe Biden stated that Houthi attacks in the Red Sea “have endangered American personnel, civilian Marines, and our partners, endangered commerce, and threatened freedom of navigation.”

In support of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the insurgents have been attacking ships supposedly linked to Israel in the Red Sea since November 19, although they claim that Their intention is not to sink ships but to put economic pressure on the Jewish State to stop the war.

Biden explained that more than 50 nations have been affected by these attacks, while more than 2,000 ships have been forced to divert to avoid the Red Sea, which increases transportation costs and can cause weeks of delays in product shipping times.

“I will not hesitate to order additional measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary,” said the US president.

The main shipping companies worldwide continue to adjust their routes to avoid navigating through this maritime route, through which almost 15% of global maritime trade transits. including 8% of world grain trade, 12% of oil trade and 8% of world liquefied natural gas trade.

The attacks once morest Yemen come just hours following US Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded a tour of the Middle East in which he warned that the US-led naval coalition in the Red Sea would respond if the Houthis They continue to launch attacks once morest merchant ships.

Joint statement

The United States, the United Kingdom and eight other countries justified this Thursday that the military action launched once morest targets of the Houthi rebels in Yemen demonstrates the joint commitment to freedom of navigation.

In a joint statement, these ten nations stressed that this action has also taken place in defense of international trade and those who transit the waters of the Red Sea, through which almost 15% of global maritime trade circulates.

US President Joe Biden had announced today that under his direction US military forces, together with the United Kingdom and support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands, carried out successful attacks once morest several targets in Yemen used by the Houthi rebels.

In the joint statement, these six nations were joined by Denmark, Germany, New Zealand and Korea to emphasize that this action is framed within the individual and collective right to self-defense.

“The more than two dozen attacks by the Houthis on commercial vessels since mid-November constitute an international challenge,” they indicated in that statement, where they noted that their response sought to degrade the Houthis’ ability to “threaten global trade.”

An Administration official added in a call with the press that the US hopes that more statements of support for the military action undertaken will arrive this Thursday night or tomorrow.

Those first ten signatory countries noted that their objective remains “to reduce tensions and restore stability in the Red Sea.”

“But let us make our message clear: we will not hesitate to defend lives and protect the free flow of commerce in one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes in the face of continued threats,” they maintained.

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