Saudi Arabia is seeking to form an international coalition to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks, Reuters sources say. The coalition's makeup is still under negotiation with scores of countries as tensions rise following the Houthi-declared maritime blockade on July 20. Saudi air strikes on Hodeidah and diplomatic talks among Gulf states aim to de-escalate the situation, while Yemen's government accuses the Houthis of planning to levy fees on transiting ships to fund militia operations.
Saudi Arabia Seeks International Coalition to Protect Red Sea Shipping After Houthi Blockade
A Houthi rebel raises a weapon as he attends a rally marking one year of Saudi-led air strikes, in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, March 26, 2016 [Mohamed al-Sayaghi/Reuters]
Saudi Arabia is working to build an international coalition to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemen's Houthi movement, people familiar with the deliberations told Reuters.
The precise composition of the proposed coalition has not been finalised and is being discussed with scores of countries, the sources said. The initiative comes amid rising tensions that analysts warn are increasing pressure on global trade routes and energy markets.
Maritime Blockade and Military Responses
On July 20 the Houthis announced a maritime blockade targeting Saudi Arabia, accusing Riyadh of enforcing "an unjust and oppressive siege" on Yemen for nearly 12 years and of "plundering our resources and imposing a comprehensive blockade." Since that declaration, the Houthis reported attacks on Saudi vessels in the Red Sea.
Saudi forces have responded with airstrikes on what they described as Houthi military facilities at Yemen's Hodeidah port, which they say were being used to threaten commercial shipping. The Saudi Center for International Communication did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Regional and Global Implications
The blockade and related attacks have widened the scope of confrontations linked to Iran, drawing in the United States, Israel and their allies and extending incidents beyond the Gulf into broader international waters. Shipping disruptions in the Red Sea and at the Bab al-Mandeb Strait — one of the world's busiest maritime chokepoints — have already contributed to higher oil prices and added uncertainty to global trade.
"Gulf states have been trying to avoid this [expansion] throughout the US-Iran conflict. They do not believe this is their war to fight, and they have said repeatedly they don't want to get dragged into it," said Al Jazeera's Victoria Gatenby.
Diplomatic Responses
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud spoke by phone with his counterparts in Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. According to his office, the officials "stressed the importance of continuing efforts to de-escalate tensions," condemned attacks by Iran and "its affiliated militias in Iraq and Yemen," and called for stronger coordination within the Gulf Cooperation Council.
In Sana'a, a minister from Yemen's internationally recognised government accused the Houthis of acting under Iranian guidance to establish a system for levying fees on vessels transiting the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani described the plan as "a dangerous escalation aimed at transforming one of the world's most strategic maritime corridors into a permanent source of funding for the militia's military and terrorist activities."
What Comes Next
Discussions on the coalition's membership remain ongoing. If formed, an international maritime security force could focus on escorting commercial vessels, deterring attacks, and safeguarding freedom of navigation through critical sea lanes. The success and composition of such a coalition will depend on political agreement among potential partner states and the willingness of regional actors to avoid further escalation.
Help us improve.
