Houthi conflict escalates: Trump's challenges in red sea crisis
The US Army, which has been attempting for around a year to establish order in the Red Sea, targeted the weapon warehouses of Yemeni Houthi militants over the weekend. This action followed a statement from the rebel leader declaring that "Donald Trump will fail" in the Middle East.
During his election campaign, the US President-elect clearly promised he could establish peace between Ukraine and Russia "with a single phone call." However, it remains unclear at what cost this would be achieved. According to Donald Trump's advisors, Moscow would be satisfied, not Kyiv.
Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putin's spokesperson, stated that ending the war "with a single phone call" is undoubtedly an exaggeration and an unrealistic scenario. However, in an interview with state media on Sunday, he admitted that the Kremlin observes "positive signals" sent by Donald Trump regarding the conflict. The Russian leader Vladimir Putin also expressed positive sentiments about the Republican victory in the presidential elections earlier.
The situation in the Middle East appears more complex for Trump, at least at first glance. The crisis in the Red Sea, from which Houthi militants have effectively driven out international trade, indicates that the Republican's second term in the White House will not bring de-escalation to the region.
Trump criticised for supporting Israel
Following Trump's election as the president of the USA, the leader of the Yemeni militants, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, criticised him for his support of Israel, which is engaged in two land operations: in the Gaza Strip, in response to an attack by Hamas in October 2023, and in Lebanon, where it is confronting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.
While figures such as the Saudi crown prince spoke positively of Trump's return to the White House, the leader of the Yemeni militants maintained that his previous term did not lead to normalised relations between Arab countries and Israel and did not resolve conflicts in the Middle East. Houthi declared that the Republican will "fail" during his second term, as the Saudi television service Al-Arabiya reported.
Three days after this statement, the American military, which collaborates with the British, conducted airstrikes on the weapon warehouses of the Yemeni militants to protect tankers from attacks. Saudi media reported visible explosions, including those in Sana'a, the capital of Yemen.
Media: Russia assists Yemeni militants
Similar Western operations have not diminished the Houthi capabilities, much like Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip have not disarmed Hamas. Meanwhile, sea transport along the crucial trade route between Europe and China is taking a slower and more expensive route around Africa.
The consequences for the West extend beyond this. Last week, militants were also attacking aircraft. Air France has suspended flight routes over the Red Sea for this reason.
The regime of Vladimir Putin is also reportedly involved in the issue. Journalists from the "Wall Street Journal" revealed that Russia provided Yemeni Houthi militants with satellite data used during attacks on ships belonging to Western nations, as reported at the end of October.
According to the "WSJ" journalists, these actions demonstrate "how far Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to go to undermine the U.S.-led Western economic and political order." This presents another urgent reason for Washington to resolve the crisis.
The Red Sea remains turbulent
"There are no signs of de-escalation and it is not safe for our vessels or personnel to go there ... Our expectation at this point is that it will last well into 2025," said Vincent Clerc, CEO of the transport giant Maersk.
The Houthis have launched attacks using missiles and drones on vessels in the Red Sea, protesting against Israel's military intervention in the Gaza Strip. Since November 2023, they have attacked over 100 ships, sinking two and hijacking another. Four sailors have lost their lives in these attacks.
The actions of the Yemeni rebels have seriously disrupted global trade, prompting shipping companies to reroute ships travelling to and from Asia via the longer and more costly route around the Cape of Good Hope instead of through the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
It is estimated that nearly one-tenth of the world's oil supply is shipped daily through this strait, which separates the Red Sea from the Indian Ocean. Tanker traffic on this route was 77 per cent lower in August 2024 compared to October 2023, as the maritime industry company Windward AI reported.
By April 2024, the USA had spent approximately £800 million (around $1 billion) on ammunition to destroy Houthi drones and rockets and to protect shipping in the Red Sea. In early October, the US deployed B-2 Spirit bombers to attack the militants' arsenal.
