Shipping companies are avoiding the route through the Suez Canal and Red Sea after attacks by Houthi rebels. Now there should be more military protection.
Amid an increasing number of attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, the U.S. military is increasing its cooperation with other countries’ militaries in the region.
Ten countries are members of the “multinational security initiative” called “Operation Prosperity Guardian,” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Monday. In addition to the USA, these include Bahrain, France, Great Britain, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles and Spain.
Austin said the mission was intended to secure “freedom of navigation for all countries” and strengthen “regional security and prosperity.” The Pentagon chief had previously warned during a visit to Israel: “Iran’s support of Houthi attacks on merchant ships must stop.”
Repeated attacks on ships
Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, the Houthi rebels in Yemen have been attacking Israel with drones and missiles and attacking ships in the Red Sea to prevent them from passing through to Israel. They threaten to prevent ships of any nationality from passing through the Red Sea on their way to Israel.
Only freighters delivering aid to the Gaza Strip would be granted passage. Several ships have been attacked since then, most recently a container freighter belonging to the German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd. Large shipping companies are increasingly avoiding the route through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
It is unclear whether the states involved are prepared to do what US warships have done in recent days – shoot down Houthi missiles and drones and rush to the aid of attacked merchant ships. In view of the attacks, major shipping companies are avoiding the Suez Canal for the time being.
The world’s largest container shipping company MSC, the Danish shipping company AP Moller-Maersk, the French shipping company CMA CGM and the Taiwanese container shipping company Evergreen have stopped their container transports through the area. The German Hapag-Lloyd will also no longer sail through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea until further notice.
Around ten percent of all world trade passes through the Red Sea. The Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean with the Red Sea, providing the shortest sea route between Asia and Europe. The alternative route around the South African Cape of Good Hope extends the transport by a few days.
