The Houthi’s have seriously disrupted trade in the Red Sea. With five shipping liners refusing to travel the Red Sea due to the aggressions of the Houthi’s against Israeli companies trading and supplying Israel, the US has added a new line of defense to “protect trade” in the region.
On top of the air craft carriers, a nuclear submarine, and several war ships, the US is sending another warship to the region to protect trade. Despite the US being located in a different hemisphere, the US feels the absolute necessity that more naval assets be sent to the Middle East to ensure safe trade. Even though the US is located thousands of miles away, there is already a military detail that protects trade from Somali pirates.
The fact that the US has to send another ship on top of the massive US naval presence already in the area, along with the other ships that were sent at the beginning of the war on Gaza, the Houthi’s have shown some serious force and impact even though they are smaller in number. Plus, the French and British have also assisted the US in “protecting trade”. Ironically, it is all the main colonizing powers from imperial days that remain the naval protectors of the ocean despite their countries not being located in other oceans.
Several African and Middle Eastern countries have agreed to join Operation Prosperity Guardian- Jordan, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, and Bahrain. There are over 39 countries that currently participate in Combined Maritime Forces. It is interesting that the US is seeking to involve the UAE when the UAE is breaking the arms embargo for Sudan and the US condemned the violence of the RSF, which the UAE is supplying with arms. It appears that the US also accepts military support from countries that fund terrorists in other country’s.
Attacks are increasing in the Red Sea, mostly from Houthi drone strikes. The Houthi’s are accomplishing what they set out to accomplish, completely disrupting the Israeli supply chain. This is greatly upsetting world leaders whose countries are located on separate continents than the region, and moneyed interests that are also dealing with trade disruptions.
Iran, Yemen, and Houthi leaders have all responded to this allegiance between the US and those who have offered their support in Operation Prosperity Guardian, that these countries are creating a “dirty alliance” that will be met with “extraordinary problems”.
It seems like the US is struggling to keep up with the adept Houthi forces, and if the US goes for a full-scale assault on the Houthi’s ,then other countries like Iran will likely join the fight.
War is brewing in the Red Sea.
The underdog has the upper hand and major world leaders cannot handle this loss of power. If these same world leaders are advocating for peace, then adding greater military presence negates that premise. They are all clearly stating through their actions that they want Israel to continue the war on Gaza and will do what they can so that Israel is fully supplied while there are Palestinians dying of starvation because the borders are closed to humanitarian aid. Will their need for power drag them into a greater war?
While these countries joining the OPG could instead open diplomatic talks with the Houthi’s and Yemen, they have chosen to increase their military presence and aggressions, only strengthening the argument that they are not interested in peace but in silencing opposition with greater violence.
Vote them all out.
Articles:
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-launches-new-multinational-operation-safeguard-red-sea-commerce-2023-12-18/
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/18/us-to-expand-red-sea-defense-as-houthis-disrupt-trade.html
https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/17/us-to-announce-expanded-protection-force-for-red-sea-shipping
From the river to the sea, may Palestine be free. May the whole world be free.
Protest. BE UNGOVERNABLE. Vote 3rd party. Boycott. Donate. Organize. Contact your elected officials. Share the stories from Gaza. Share the news from Gaza. Share the history of Gaza. Please extend the same energy to other countries and people facing genocide and atrocities- Sudan, Congo. West Papua, the Rohingyans, Armenians, and the Uyghurs.