Spain decided not to join the coalition led by the US, which aims to protect Red Sea shipping from Yemen’s Huthi rebels’ attacks. These rebels, supported by Iran, have been targeting ships in the Red Sea. Although the Pentagon had mentioned 20 nations joining the coalition, Spain chose to abstain due to uncertainties within its government. While they didn’t specify a reason, Spanish media suggested it was influenced by internal politics. This decision comes amid rising tensions in the Red Sea, sparked by recent attacks by Yemen’s Huthi rebels on ships they linked to Israel. In the latest incident, the rebels targeted an Indian-flagged, Gabon-owned crude oil tanker named MV Saibaba. Fortunately, no casualties or damage to the ship have been reported. The US military confirmed the distress call from the vessel and also responded to another ship under attack in the region.
After a Norwegian-owned oil tanker narrowly escaped a Huthi drone attack, another incident occurred in the Red Sea. Four drones, reportedly launched from a Huthi-controlled region in Yemen, were shot down as they approached a US destroyer last Saturday. Due to these attacks, merchant ships carrying various goods like manufactured items, grains, oil, and gas have been avoiding the Red Sea route on a large scale.
However, the world’s second-largest container line, AP Moller-Maersk, is gearing up to resume shipping in the Red Sea. This decision follows the establishment of a multinational task force aiming to protect ships from Huthi attacks. Despite this positive step, Maersk cautioned that while shipping might resume, the risks in the area won’t vanish entirely.
Maersk initially expected months of disruption in the Red Sea and welcomed the formation of Operation Prosperity Guardian, a task force led by the United States and its allies. While this signals progress for the industry, it doesn’t completely eliminate the risks involved in navigating the Red Sea.
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