Houthi attacks on Israeli ships
Since the beginning of November, the Houthis have carried out frequent attacks on Israeli-associated vessels in the Red Sea-Indian Ocean navigable zone. These attacks have not only exacerbated the security situation for merchant vessels, but have also led to an escalating threat level to merchant vessels. This series of events not only brought the Red Sea route into the global spotlight, but also caused the international community to worry about the development of the situation.
In the face of constant attacks by the Houthis, the United States sent destroyers, while France also sent frigates to try to escort merchant ships. These efforts included the shooting down of several Houthi drones, but unfortunately failed to secure the Red Sea route. It has also raised questions about the effectiveness of maritime alliances, and whether they can respond to escalating threats has become a matter of concern.
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Merchant ships are affected by ongoing attacks
The continued Houthi attacks not only pose a threat to Israeli vessels, but also cause many merchant ships and shipping companies on the Red Sea route to be diverted or suspended. The ripple effect of this behavior has led to serious economic problems, which not only exacerbate the instability of the shipping industry, but also have a considerable impact on the trade of the countries concerned.
In the face of threats to the free flow of commerce and violations of international law, the United States came up with the idea of an "international operation of the Guardians of Prosperity." The operation aims to form an international maritime alliance to address security challenges in the escalating Red Sea-Indian Ocean navigation area. The U.S. initiative has been supported by the United Kingdom, France, Canada and many other countries, but it has also sparked a series of doubts.
Challenges for the Maritime Alliance
Despite the positive response of many countries to the Prosperity Guardians International Initiative, the maritime alliance faces enormous challenges. First, a number of key countries did not take an active part, which weakened the overall strength of the alliance. Second, the Houthis' attack methods are diverse, and unlike traditional maritime security challenges, they put forward higher requirements for the alliance's countermeasures. How to coordinate the forces of various countries in joint operations has become a major problem facing the alliance.
While the Prosperity Guardians International Initiative has received a positive response from many countries, the absence of some key countries has raised doubts. The absence of key regional countries such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia, as well as the absence of countries such as Israel, shows uncertainty within the alliance and casts a shadow over security governance in the Red Sea-Indian Ocean navigation zone.
Considerations of the interests of Egypt and Saudi Arabia
The absence of Egypt and Saudi Arabia is not accidental. Egypt, relying on aid from the United States and Arab countries, is under pressure from many quarters to refrain from taking sides on the Red Sea issue. The interests it faces make it wary of joining the alliance. Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, pursues the goal of avoiding another war with the Houthis, and has heightened tensions with the United States, so it has chosen to remain neutral and not easily join the international coalition.
At the same time, the "rapprochement of the century" between Saudi Arabia and Iran has had a profound impact on its attitude. This warming of relations has led Saudi Arabia to maintain a cautious stance on Middle East affairs and to be reluctant to take sides too explicitly. This also shows some support for the Houthis, which has led Saudi Arabia to take a wait-and-see approach to the alliance.
The conundrum of the American Maritime Alliance
The U.S.-led initiative of the Prosperity Guardians International Initiative faces a series of problems. There are differences in the actual escort capabilities of the alliance member states, and some countries may not be able to shoulder the expected responsibilities, thus affecting the effectiveness of the overall operation. The inadequacy of naval forces is also an obvious problem. While the United States has been working to build an "enhanced navy," it will require the active participation and substantive support of other member states to ensure the alliance's operational capabilities.
In the case of uncertainty within the alliance, how to solve the membership problem has become a major task for the alliance in the future. Efforts to get countries such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia to join the board are imperative, and more opportunities for cooperation and common interests need to be considered to break the uncertainty of membership. The United States also needs to seriously address the substantive issues facing its maritime alliance and ensure the effective functioning of its alliance by strengthening the practical capabilities of its members.
Although the security situation in the Red Sea-Indian Ocean navigation zone has aroused great concern in the international community, the problems within the alliance have brought considerable challenges to security governance. The absence of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, as well as the real problems facing the U.S. maritime alliance, make the road to resolving this storm even more tortuous. In the future, by overcoming internal and external difficulties, countries need to work together to ensure that the Prosperity Guardians International Initiative achieves tangible results and maintains peace and stability in the Red Sea-Indian Ocean navigation region.