A new multinational maritime security force has been established by the United States and several other countries in response to attacks on ships launched by Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen. The initiative aims to ensure the safe passage of ships through busy waterways near Yemen, as the Houthis have been targeting vessels in protest of Israel’s war on Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 19,000 Palestinians.
The United States Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, announced the establishment of this 10-country force on Tuesday in Bahrain. Alongside the Arab nation, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles, and Spain have agreed to join the mission. Some of the countries will conduct joint patrols in the southern parts of the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden, while others will support the force by providing intelligence.
The mission will be coordinated by Combined Task Force 153 (CTF 153), an existing force under a US-led joint effort established in April 2022 to enhance maritime security in the area. The existing framework has 39 member nations, and there are reports that other countries could join or have already agreed to join the newly formed 10-member maritime effort but prefer not to publicize their involvement.
The Houthi rebels have vowed to continue their attacks until Israel ceases its war in Gaza. While they have expressed openness to diplomatic talks, such efforts have so far failed to halt their attacks. Iran has also warned the United States that its joint maritime effort will encounter “extraordinary problems.”
The Houthis initially launched missiles and drones at southern parts of Israel, including the port and tourist city of Eilat, in October. However, most of these projectiles were intercepted by Israeli and US defenses or fell short due to the distance between the two countries. In response, the Houthis shifted their tactics and began targeting ships near their shores. They have been firing missiles and launching attack drones at commercial ships they claim are linked to Israel, and they recently seized a vessel that they are still holding in a Yemeni port. As a result, their attacks have disrupted the movement of many ships towards Israel.
At least 12 shipping companies, including major players like Denmark’s AP Moller-Maersk, Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd, the Italian-Swiss Mediterranean Shipping Company, and France’s CMA CGM, have suspended transit through the Red Sea due to the Houthi attacks. The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a narrow waterway separating Eritrea and Djibouti from Yemen, sees 10 percent of the world’s seaborne crude oil travel through it. With over 17,000 ships passing through each year, any disruption to security could have implications for oil prices and the global oil and gas market.
The newly established multinational maritime security force includes warships from several member nations. While these warships will not necessarily escort commercial vessels through the Red Sea, they will be on standby to respond to attacks and serve as a deterrent to Houthi aggression. The presence of these military vessels could make it harder for the Houthis to repeat tactics such as landing a helicopter on a ship to capture it. Additionally, the task force’s warships could intercept incoming missiles from Yemen, similar to how they have intercepted rockets aimed at Israel. However, experts caution that it will be challenging for the coalition to fully deter the Houthis and put an end to their disruption of maritime shipping.
Despite the establishment of the task force, there remains skepticism in the markets regarding its ability to protect shipments through the Red Sea. This skepticism is evident as shipping companies like Maersk reroute their ships around Africa to avoid the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. If the attacks continue and security remains an issue, insurance premiums and prices of oil and gas products are expected to rise.
In conclusion, the establishment of the multinational maritime security force is a response to the Houthi attacks on ships near Yemen. While the force aims to ensure the safe passage of ships through the Red Sea, there are doubts about its effectiveness in deterring the Houthis. The attacks have already disrupted the shipping industry, and concerns about rising oil prices and security remain.
