[Jimbuna]

Yemeni Houthi movement secures safe Red Sea passage for Russian and Chinese ships

Representatives of the Yemeni Houthi movement were in discussions with diplomats from Russia and China regarding the security of their fleet passing through the Red Sea. The fighters were to guarantee that their ships would not be the target of attacks. In Oman, a meeting occurred with diplomats from Russia and China and Mohammed Abdel Salam, a leading political figure of the Yemeni Houthi fighters - Bloomberg reported, citing sources who witnessed the talks. The fighters guaranteed that attacks on Chinese and Russian ships would not be conducted, allowing them to safely pass through the Red Sea. In return, the Houthis are hoping for political support, such as at the UN, to block further resolutions against the movement. Since mid-November 2023, Yemeni Houthi rebels have been attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea. They claim to target only those associated with Israel and, more recently, with the United States and the United Kingdom, aiming to pressure the far-right government of Benjamin Netanyahu.

China and Russia are concerned

According to Bloomberg, to avoid Houthi attacks, some ships passing through the Red Sea indicate their ties to China more explicitly, such as stating that all crew members are Chinese instead of the usual destination port. Despite this, in mid-January, Wang Yi, the head of Chinese diplomacy, called for an end to the harassment of civilian ships and attacks on them, advocating for the maintenance of the free flow of global industrial chains, supply chains, and the international trade order. Russian interests were also harmed during these attacks. As reported on money.pl, at the end of January, the fighters targeted a British tanker owned by the trading giant Trafigura Group, carrying Russian oil, marking an unexpected setback for the Kremlin and heightening fears of further disruptions on the route through the Red Sea. The attacks are disrupting trade on the route, which until recently accounted for 12 percent of global trade. Ships must now take a longer route circling Africa from the south. Egypt is also affected, as traffic through the Suez Canal has decreased.
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world...fdad6104&ei=11