Pentagon spokesman, Pat Ryder reported that as of December 21st, more than 20 countries have committed to participating in a U.S.-led naval coalition aimed at safeguarding Red Sea maritime traffic from Houthi militia attacks in Yemen. He stated that the U.S. has publicly acknowledged participating nations, and will defer to others to discuss their involvement in the coalition, named “Operation Prosperity Guardian”. U.S. Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, initially announced the launch of the coalition, identifying its members and urged more countries to join the coalition.
In recent weeks, Houthi rebels have threatened the trade route that runs through the Red Sea, used by an estimated 12 percent of global commerce. Attacks on ships in the Red Sea have led to a major disruption in global trade, leading British, French, and American naval forces to respond to the security threat posed by Houthi forces.
Houthi rebel fighters have carried out threats by firing rockets at Israel, and international shipping companies have rerouted cargo to avoid hostilities in the region. Despite fueling international shipping disruptions, Iran, a known ally of the Houthi rebellion, has denied directly supporting the group’s recent actions in the region. Tehran has issued a warning to any nation aligning with the U.S.-led coalition, claiming alliances will be viewed as complicity in Israel’s military actions against Palestine.
In contrast to initial claims made by Mr. Austin, several key nations, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have not formally joined the coalition initiative. Riyadh and Abu Dhabi have moved towards peace with Houthi leadership and Iran, and are hesitant to align with a coalition that could pose a threat to recent peace efforts. The lack of participation by some key U.S. allies has led to skepticism and uncertainty surrounding the future of the coalition.