Houthi blockade of Saudi Arabia could further disrupt global trade
Houthi rebels have declared a blockade of Saudi-linked shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, threatening global trade and oil supplies. The group claims to have already rerouted several ships using naval mines, drones, and armed boarding parties.
Why it matters
The disruption of this critical maritime chokepoint poses a significant risk to global energy prices and international supply chains.
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CAIRO (AP) — A declared blockade of Saudi Arabia by Yemen’s Houthi rebels has the potential to widen the Iran war and further disrupt global oil supplies and international trade.
The rebels say they have closed the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Saudi-linked shipping in retaliation for the kingdom’s blockade on Yemen and a recent attack on the international airport in Yemen’s rebel-held capital, Sanaa. The Houthis claim to have forced six ships to reroute on Tuesday, but there was no independent confirmation.
Bab el-Mandeb , at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, is a vital shipping chokepoint, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Arabia. Around 12% of the world’s trade, including a fourth of global container traffic, passes through the narrows, moving between Europe and Asia via Egypt’s Suez Canal.
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