Houthi Attacks: A Threat to Global Shipping

Houthi Attacks: A Threat to Global Shipping

GS-2,3: IR & Internal Security  (UPSC/State PSC)

Context:

Recently, the chemical tanker MV Chem Pluto, which was about 235 nautical miles (436 km) off the coast of Porbandar, Gujarat, became the subject of worldwide discussion due to a drone attack.

• According to a report, the drone attack on the Gujarat ship was carried out from Iran: The drone attack is being attributed to the Yemen-based Houthi group, who have recently launched attacks on ships belonging to Israel, citing Israel's continued aggression in Gaza. Drone and rocket attacks have been carried out.
• The drone attack on the ship in the southern Red Sea on December 23, 2023, was reported by the Gabon-flagged, Indian-crew ship MV Sai Baba.
• The twin attacks on m. v. Sai Baba and Norwegian-flagged m. v. BLAAMANEN, represent the 14th and 15th attacks on commercial shipping by Houthi militants since October 17, according to the U.S. Central Command.
• Location: The Houthi attacks are mostly concentrated in the Red Sea area, and the Bab el-Mandeb straits off the Yemeni coast.
• The nearly 2,000-km Red Sea connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean via the narrow Suez Canal.

About MV Chem Pluto:

• MV Chem Pluto is a Liberia-flagged, Japanese-owned and Netherlands-operated chemical tanker that carries crude oil from Saudi Arabia to the New Mangalore coast.
• The vessel with 21 Indians and one Vietnamese crew after the attack reached Mumbai on 25 Dec. 2023 escorted by the Indian Coast Guard Ship (INGS) “Vikram”.

Impacts of Houthi attacks:

• About 15% of world shipping traffic including roughly 30% of global container trade passes through the Suez Canal.
• War risk surcharge: Every ship plying on this route risks attracting a “war risk” surcharge.
• In light of the houthi attacks, British Petroleum paused their movements through this route, and is taking a longer, more fuel-intensive and time-consuming route (around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope taking 34 days).
• Escalation: The Houthi rebel issued a warning “Red Sea will burn”, in response to Operation Prosperity Guardian.
• Risks of military escalation in the Middle East: As Western countries try to re-establish order.
• As one of the world’s major trade arteries suddenly closes, America and its allies are ramping up naval activity in the Middle East, and may even attack the Houthis, in order to re-establish free passage.
• Impact on Egypt: Revenue from the Suez Canal is a major source of income for Egypt, which is already in the midst of a financial crisis. Israel will be less affected, with only about 5% of its trade passing through Eilat, its Red Sea port.
• Economic Impacts: A prolonged closure of the Suez route would raise the costs of trade as shipping is rerouted around Africa, taking more time, and insurance premiums soar.
• Short-term Supply-chain Threats: It could also result from wide-scale rerouting of trade.

• Example: In 2021 the Ever Given, a Taiwanese-operated ship, ran aground and blocked the canal for six days, amplifying a global supply-chain crunch.

About the Red Sea:

• A vital waterway for global commerce and energy shipped between Europe and Asia.
• Through the Red Sea, perhaps one-third of the global seaborne oil supply passes.
• Houthi Attacks on Ships Significance: An estimated 12% of global trade by volume normally flows, and perhaps 30% of global container traffic through it.
• Challenge: It has become a no-go zone as the Houthis attack shipping.

About Bab el-Mandeb:

• It is a narrow strait between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
• It is located between Yemen on the Arabian Peninsula and Djibouti and Eritrea on the African coast. It is also known as the Gate of Tears.

Significance:

• It is the route by which ships can reach the Suez Canal from the south – itself a major shipping lane.
• Avoiding it means vessels must take much longer routes, for example navigating around southern Africa.

About Suez Canal

• The Suez Canal is the quickest sea route between Asia and Europe and connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea and further to the Indian Ocean.
• It is particularly important for the transportation of oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) with about nine million barrels of oil per day shipped through the Suez Canal in the first half of 2023
• 17000 ships go through the Suez Canal every year carrying approximately $1 trillion worth of goods.

About Operation Prosperity Guardian

• It is a multinational security initiative launched by the US to counter the growing number of attacks against Israel-bound international traffic.
• Coalition includes the U.K., Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Seychelles, apart from the U.S.

About Houthis

• The Houthi movement (Ansar Allah movement)  is a Shia Islamist political and military organization in Yemen.
• It predominantly comprises Zaidi Shias, with their namesake leadership drawn largely from the Houthi tribe.
• Official slogan: “God is the Greatest, Death to America, Death to Israel, A Curse Upon the Jews, Victory to Islam. They are influenced by the Lebanese Shia political and military organization Hezbollah
• Yemen Civil war: It has been fought between The Houthis backed by Iran and Hezbollah and the Yemen government backed by Saudi Arabia and the West for over a decade.  Houthis control much of northern and western Yemen, including the official capital, Sanaa.

Conclusion:

There is a need for the world community to be strategically prepared to effectively control such terrorist attacks as such attacks will have a serious impact not only on the world economy, consumers, stock levels, costs and supply chains, but will also affect international relations.

Source: The Hindu

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Mains Question:

How have previous incidents of maritime threats, such as piracy, prepared nations to respond to the recent drone attacks in the Red Sea?

What specific measures have India employed to control the drone attacks on merchant vessels?