A cargo ship sails in the Red Sea after exiting the Suez Canal in Egypt /SCMP
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Recently, the Houthis began attacking ships they claimed were headed to Israel or belonged to companies in Israel in an attempt to end the military offensive on Gaza. As a result of the Houthi attacks, some of the world’s largest shipping companies have refused to transit their ships Suez Canal, which complicates flows between Europe and Asia, and forces some ships to take a more expensive route around the Cape of Good Hope.
“Amid the ongoing geopolitical risks in the Red Sea, we have asked shipping companies to proactively consider changing the route because the safety of our ships and export products is the priority,” said Jo Ek-no, director-general of international trade policy at the ministry.
At the same time, the ministry said: “There have been no major disruptions to crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies from the region so far because ships are currently taking other long routes around Africa.” The Ministry explained that the drought in Panama Canal. Recently, it has increased costs and duration for shipping companies, “but its impact on merchandise trade in South Korea has been limited so far.”
Flights that changed their route to circumnavigate Africa may be 25% longer than the duration of the trip through the Suez Canal, according to Flexport. This raises the cost of these trips and raises the prices of all goods and merchandise, from sports shoes and food to oil, to consumers if the shift to longer trips continues.
America trying to convince shipping companies to sail again in the Red Sea
The US government is trying to reassure shipping companies that providing a multinational force will make sailing on the Red Sea and Suez Canal safe, although the Houthi attacks based in Yemen show no sign of slowing down.
Providing safe sea passage
The Iran-backed Houthis said they were targeting the associated ships in Israel in support of the Palestinians, although they also targeted ships that had no direct links to Israel.
The USS Mason, a guided-missile destroyer, shot down a missile and a drone over the southern Red Sea, but the official say it doesn’t provide any security to all ships which are thousands. “We are doing no damage to any of the 7,000 ships but we can’t guarantee protection in the engagement” said in a post a U.S. government official.
The fleet avoids Container ships that regularly transit the Red Sea and Suez Canal are now in transit due to the threat of attacks, according to new industry data. Many tankers and container ships are resorting to the longer and more expensive route – around the southern tip of Africa, which may lead to higher prices for oil and a variety of consumer goods.
A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S, the world’s No. 2 container line, announced its readiness to resume sailing through the Red Sea lanes “as soon as operationally possible.” But even Maersk warned that “the general danger in the region remains.” The company said it “will not hesitate” to re-evaluate the safety status of its ships and employees.
“Multi-front war”
A defense analyst and retired Navy captain who once commanded the destroyer USS Labone, which shot down four drones in the Red Sea on Saturday, shipping companies are still waiting for the US-led coalition to take more action. procedures.
“This approach does not appear to address the cause of the threat,” said during an interview, adding: “The Houthis can operate from ungoverned areas of Yemen. More action needs to be taken on that. We seem to move very cautiously when circumstances appear to warrant a response.” more stronger”.
But the Biden administration has been reluctant to take measures that might turn Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip – which began after Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on October 7 – into a broader regional conflict. Shipping companies may share this concern.
“If the United States starts firing on Houthi camps, it will increase the risk, not reduce it, so I don’t think shipping companies are particularly keen to start that,” Cancian said.
Strengthen procedures
The Pentagon noted that the Red Sea security initiative it is leading – known as “Operation Prosperity Guardian” – brings together forces from the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, Spain, Australia, and Greece, as well as some other countries that do not want to be named. However, the military has not explained details about how it works.
The analyst noted that the mixed nature of the threat, which includes potential attacks from drones, missiles and small boats, makes responding more difficult because not all ships participating in the force will have the same capabilities as American ships.
South Korea calls it a risky problem. Doesn’t want Asian shipments on the Red Sea for the Houthi attacks
South Korea which began its term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council this month, expressed its concern about the escalation of tensions in the waters near the Red Sea at the Council’s first official meeting this year. South Korean Ambassador to the United Nations Hwang Jun-guk said at the council meeting that “the dangerous situation in the Gaza Strip raises fears of a series of repercussions on other regions and the deterioration of relations,” stressing that “there is an urgent need to make every possible effort to reduce tensions in the region, including That’s the Red Sea.
Members of the UN Security Council called on the Houthis to stop their attacks on navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, saying they threaten regional stability, freedom of navigation and global food supplies. During the council’s first formal meeting in 2024, some members urged the council to take action to stop Houthi missile and drone attacks.
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