Moslem Pirates in the Red Sea
Dr Clifford Smyth
The Houthi are one of the warring factions in the civil war in Yemen.The Houthi are backed by Iran
Their piratical activity gives them a grip on global trade.
But the story is very complex because the Houghi's actions also impact on China's global reach but China supports Iran with its choke-lock on Red Sea trade, the Houthi have extended their activities beyond Israeli shipping to commercial shipping in general .Consequently the Royal Navy and a United States carrier force have been deployed.
There is no immediate solution to this stand-off in sight, though it has exposed the parlous state of Britain's defence policy.
(Posted 25/01/2024)