Sunak warns open sea lanes taken 'for granted' as UK joins Red Sea naval efforts

Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea included the seizure of the cargo ship Galaxy Leader. Photo: HOUTHI MILITARY MEDIA/via REUTERS

Rishi Sunak warned the world was taking open sea lanes “for granted” as Britain joined international naval efforts to repel Houthi rebel attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea.

The Prime Minister said attacks on shipping by “malicious actors” were “deeply concerning” and that Britain would work with the United States and seven other countries to keep the sea route open.

Houthi rebels responded to the launch of a joint military effort, code-named Operation Prosperity Guardian, by vowing to continue «legitimate» attacks on cargo ships in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Grant Shapps, the defense secretary, joined a US-hosted teleconference with other defense ministers at 6 a.m. Tuesday, during which the countries agreed to send naval resources to the Red Sea to counter Houthi attacks in Yemen.

The navy has already deployed the Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond to the region and used it to shoot down a suspected Houthi drone that attacked a commercial vessel on Saturday.

The ship fired an Aster missile from its Sea Viper weapon. system — for the first time in 32 years, the Navy shot down an aerial target.

The UK and the United States are joined by Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and the Seychelles.

France already has a naval presence in the area, and Italy has said so. sent by the frigate «Virginio Fasan». Spain said it could join the operation subject to «a decision from the European Union and NATO.» Defense sources said the Type 23 frigate HMS Lancaster was in the Persian Gulf and could join the operation at a later date to provide additional naval capacity. support.

The announcement of the Western-led naval coalition came as several shipping companies said they would bypass the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea and instead take the long route around Africa — a route that would take another three weeks.< /p >

Oil giant BP said it would suspend all shipments through the Red Sea, raising concerns about global oil prices in the week before Christmas.

The world's four biggest shipping companies are CMA CGM Group, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk and MSC sent their ships.

Danish company Maersk said on Tuesday that “all ships were previously paused and had to pass through the region. will now be rerouted around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope.”

The route is also used by tankers carrying most of the UK's liquefied natural gas supplies, including shipments from Qatar, which account for 30 percent of supplies. Gas imports to the UK last year.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait route is used by about 10 percent of global shipping, with 23,000 ships passing through each year.

Military -The Navy has already sent the Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond to the region. Photo: LPhot Belinda Alker/Ministry of Defense

The Houthi rebels are based in Yemen, which has since been in a state of civil war. In 2014, they also fired missiles directly at Israel over a distance of more than 1,000 miles.

The group is funded by Iran and is believed to have been used, along with Hamas, as a proxy in Iran's conflict with Israel.

Mr Shapps said: “These unlawful attacks pose an unacceptable threat to the global economy. undermine regional security and threaten to raise fuel prices.

“This is an international problem that requires an international solution. This is why HMS Diamond joined Operation Prosperity Guardian.

“This new task force will protect shipping and vital trade routes in the Red Sea, which carries large volumes of goods and oil through Europe and the UK.”

HMS Diamond, which began service in 2011. , is equipped with a Wildcat helicopter, which can be equipped with a machine gun, torpedoes and missiles.

Commander Pete Evans, the ship's commanding officer, said: “The Royal Navy has always been committed to protecting maritime commerce and ensuring the safety of people and shipping in international waters.

“HMS Diamond and her company stand ready to work alongside our allies to protect peace and security.”

HMS Diamondshot shot down a suspected Houthi drone that was attacking a commercial vessel with an Aster missile from a Sea Viper weapon system. Photo: MoD/Royal Copyright/PA

On Monday evening, Lloyd Austin, the US defense secretary, said the escalating Houthi attacks in the Red Sea “threaten the free flow of trade, endanger innocent sailors and violate international law.”

«It's just more one piece of evidence.» that the international picture is both complex and more complex, and in the past we, I think, may have taken many of these things for granted,” he said.

“Clearly we cannot and we need to invest in our defense capabilities and strengthen our alliances to keep everyone safe at home and protect our economy.» However, Mohammed Abdel-Salam, the Houthis' chief negotiator and spokesman, said the Iranian-backed group would continue attacks on sea lanes in support of Hamas.

“The American-formed coalition is designed to defend Israel and militarize the sea without justification and will not prevent Yemen from continuing its legitimate operations in support of Gaza,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.