The stalemate over the U.S. escort operation in the Red Sea has attracted widespread attention, and Saudi Arabia's resolute refusal to participate has become the focus of attention. In this game on the international stage, Saudi Arabia's decision has sparked deep thought and speculation from all sides.
Operation Prosperity Guardian is a joint U.S. multinational fleet designed to counter the threat posed by the Houthis in Yemen. However, the Arab countries remained silent, with Bahrain being the only country to respond. Saudi Arabia, which has nearly 1,600 kilometers of Red Sea coastline and key ports, has firmly rejected the invitation of the United States.
The Saudis revealed some of the considerations behind the decision. First, the Saudi Navy is concerned about the anti-ship threat from the Houthis. In 2017, a Medina-class missile frigate of the Saudi Navy was attacked by C-802 anti-ship missiles fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels, resulting in severe damage to the ship. The incident raised suspicions about the Red Sea patrol mission on the part of the Saudis and became a major reason for refusing to join Operation Prosperity Guardian.
Second, from a strategic point of view, Saudi Arabia is reluctant to easily intervene in the escort operations organized by the United States. Currently, Arab countries are silent on the conflict between Israel and Hamas, with reservations about the coalition that supports Israel. At the same time, Saudi Arabia has been working to end the long-standing conflict with the Houthis. Although the UN-brokered ceasefire agreement was implemented in 2022, the two sides have not actually re-entered the conflict.
In addition, Saudi Arabia is promoting regional stability by improving relations with Iran. Iran is a supporter of the Houthis, and improved relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran are expected to ease tensions with the Houthis. In the context of regional security, Saudi Arabia's refusal can be seen as a more sensible choice.
The U.S. escort operation failed to produce the desired results, but instead provoked a more fierce counterattack by the Houthis. The failure of this operation put the US Navy on the back foot, and even had to withdraw the aircraft carrier. Saudi Arabia's firm refusal is in line with the country's national interests and the actual situation in the region, and avoids the risk of becoming a "shield" in international affairs. Against this backdrop, Saudi Arabia's decision demonstrates its independence and rationality in handling regional affairs, and injects a stabilizing force into the regional situation.
If you think it's small, please pay attention to it and like b( ̄▽ ̄)d.