What is the solution to reduce attacks in the Red Sea?

The Red Sea is about 1,900 km long and over 300 km wide at its widest point. The seabed has a maximum depth of 2,500 m at the midpoint of the central trench and an average depth of 500 m, but it also has a large, shallow continental shelf, notable for its marine life and corals. The surface area is about 438,000–450,000 km². The sea is home to over 1,000 species of invertebrates and 200 species of hard and soft corals.

The US and its partners and allies condemn the Houthis' attacks in the Red Sea (Illustration photo: Reuters).

This sea is part of the Great Rift Valley. The Red Sea is the world's northernmost tropical sea. The Red Sea is famous not only for its curious name, but also for its rich biodiversity, with many endemic species found only in this sea. According to Kleinhaus, the unique characteristics of the coral reef make the Red Sea one of the only marine areas in the world that is less affected by climate change.

However, the Israel-Hamas conflict is also raising concerns about maritime security in the Middle East. Recently, commercial ships passing through the Red Sea were attacked by drones and missiles for hours. Houthi forces in Yemen claimed responsibility. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the destroyer Carney operating in the Red Sea on December 3 responded to emergency calls and provided support after missiles and drones were launched from territory controlled by the Houthi group in Yemen. According to Reuters, expert Albert Jan Swart of ABN Amro Company estimated that the number of companies taking such actions now "controls nearly half of the global container shipping market".

Houthi military helicopters fly over the Galaxy Leader cargo ship in the Red Sea. (Source: Reuters)

Frontline (Cyprus) was one of the latest names to join this list on December 18. On the same day, Equinor (Norway) announced that some of its crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LPG) tankers had changed their routes to avoid the Red Sea. Previously, the Houthi armed group on November 20 released a video of their gunmen landing and seizing the Galaxy Leader cargo ship in the Red Sea. Iran's MEHR News agency cited a video posted by the Houthis showing an Mi-8 helicopter approaching the Galaxy Leader while the ship was moving in the Red Sea. Immediately after the helicopter landed on the deck of the ship, the gunmen quickly went to the cockpit to control the captain and crew.

In recent days, the Houthi forces have increased their attacks on Western cargo ships. The force also announced increased attacks in the Red Sea, warning of launching a naval campaign in the area every 12 hours against Western cargo ships. The US military announced that the warship Carney shot down three drones, affirming that the attacks were a threat to international trade. Israel later said there was no connection with the two ships attacked by the Houthi movement. Tel Aviv also reported that one ship was slightly damaged and the other was seriously damaged, at risk of sinking.

Since early November, Polish truckers have blocked several border crossings with Ukraine in protest against the European Union's decision to relax the bloc's regulations on Ukrainian shipping companies last year, giving Ukrainian partners an advantage in terms of prices. The world's leading oil and gas group BP has decided to suspend all shipments through the Red Sea, accepting to reroute via the Cape of Good Hope. In addition, a series of major shipping lines such as Hapag Lloyd, MSC and Maersk have also announced that they will temporarily suspend cargo transportation through the Suez Canal, choosing to go via the Cape of Good Hope, incurring additional costs and nearly doubling shipping times.

Tensions in the Red Sea are spiraling out of control. The fear now is that the Houthis will keep the current tensions in the Red Sea constant, increasing insurance costs for ships, thereby adding pressure to the current inflation of food and energy prices. Some observers point out that although the Houthis claim to only attack ships related to Israel, their targets also include ships not headed to or connected to Israel.

Bui Tue (compilation and commentary)