Italy to deploy warships in Red Sea to protect shipping as Houthis tighten grip on Bab el-Mandeb

Italy is set to deploy warships to safeguard commercial vessels navigating the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, amid growing Houthi control over the critical Red Sea passage, which is threatening global shipping and Saudi Arabia's oil export routes. Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto announced Rome's proactive measures to protect merchant vessels, emphasizing the potential severe repercussions of the strait becoming impassable for the global economy.

He stressed that Italy cannot allow bureaucratic delays to escalate an already volatile situation. The Houthi movement, backed by Iran, has expanded its influence over Yemen's western Red Sea coastline, including crucial islands near the Bab el-Mandeb, raising concerns over commercial vessel safety and energy supply transportation.

For Saudi Arabia, the developments are particularly alarming as the kingdom relies heavily on the Red Sea for oil exports, using it as an alternative pathway after disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, is a vital maritime route carrying energy shipments and other commercial traffic between Asia and Europe, making control of the surrounding coastline and islands strategically essential.

The African Union Commission has expressed serious concerns over the attacks on Red Sea shipping routes and condemned any disruption to the security of the waterway. The situation has become even more pressing following the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz earlier this year, prompting the US and European countries to consider alternative shipping routes, which could significantly increase costs and complexity for international trade.