Twelve countries have warned the Houthis against further attacks in the Red Sea
Date：01-06 178 Belong to：News Information
On January 3, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States issued a joint statement saying:
"The continued attacks by the Houthis in the Red Sea are illegal, unacceptable and deeply destabilizing.
There is no legitimate justification for deliberate attacks on civilian ships and naval vessels.
"The use of drones, small boats and missiles to attack ships, including commercial ships, including the historic first use of anti-ship ballistic missiles against such ships, is a direct threat to the freedom of navigation that is the cornerstone of global trade in one of the world's most important waterways."
The statement called for an immediate end to the attacks and warned that the Houthis "will face consequences if they continue to threaten lives, the global economy and the free flow of commerce in the region's vital shipping lanes."
The statement was widely interpreted as a threat of military action against the Houthis if the attacks on the ship continued.
Shipping association Bimco, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the World Shipping Council (WSC) welcomed the announcement.
"On behalf of our members and their seafarers and customers around the world, these organizations thank these 12 countries for their steadfast commitment to defending the rules-based international order and holding malicious actors accountable for unlawful seizures and attacks," the associations said.
"The shipping Association calls on all States and international organizations to protect seafarers, safeguard international trade in the Red Sea, and support the welfare of the global Commons by exerting all pressure on the aggressors so that these intolerable attacks cease immediately."
The statement from the 12 countries came on the day of a meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
At the meeting, countries condemned the attacks, called for de-escalation and the release of the hijacked aircraft carrier USS Galactic Leader and its crew.
The meeting included a statement from International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, who told members: "Attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea region are unacceptable."
Ships must be allowed to trade unhindered throughout the world in accordance with international law.
Since early November, there have been a number of attacks on international vessels sailing in the vital waterway, which accounts for about 15 percent of international shipping trade.
The initial target was ships linked to Israel, but from the information we have recently received, that does not appear to be the case at this time.
"Imo continues to monitor the situation closely and liaises with industry representatives and the Navy."
The full text of the IMO Secretary-General's video address is available on the United Nations YouTube channel.
Ambassador Chris Lew, the US Representative to the UN on Governance and Reform, said: "These attacks have serious implications for maritime security, international shipping and commerce.
They undermine the fragile humanitarian situation in Yemen and undermine the international community's ability to deliver assistance to more than 21 million people in need."
While the politics behind the statement varied widely, Russia's Permanent representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia similarly condemned the attacks: "We strongly condemn attacks on civilian vessels, which endanger not only the freedom and safety of navigation, but also the lives and health of seafarers."
In addition, they create additional risks and increase instability in an already "dynamite" region.
The UN Security Council issued a statement calling for an end to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea by December 1, 2023.
"The continued attacks by the Houthis in the Red Sea are illegal, unacceptable and deeply destabilizing.
There is no legitimate justification for deliberate attacks on civilian ships and naval vessels.
"The use of drones, small boats and missiles to attack ships, including commercial ships, including the historic first use of anti-ship ballistic missiles against such ships, is a direct threat to the freedom of navigation that is the cornerstone of global trade in one of the world's most important waterways."
The statement called for an immediate end to the attacks and warned that the Houthis "will face consequences if they continue to threaten lives, the global economy and the free flow of commerce in the region's vital shipping lanes."
The statement was widely interpreted as a threat of military action against the Houthis if the attacks on the ship continued.
Shipping association Bimco, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the World Shipping Council (WSC) welcomed the announcement.
"On behalf of our members and their seafarers and customers around the world, these organizations thank these 12 countries for their steadfast commitment to defending the rules-based international order and holding malicious actors accountable for unlawful seizures and attacks," the associations said.
"The shipping Association calls on all States and international organizations to protect seafarers, safeguard international trade in the Red Sea, and support the welfare of the global Commons by exerting all pressure on the aggressors so that these intolerable attacks cease immediately."
The statement from the 12 countries came on the day of a meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
At the meeting, countries condemned the attacks, called for de-escalation and the release of the hijacked aircraft carrier USS Galactic Leader and its crew.
The meeting included a statement from International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, who told members: "Attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea region are unacceptable."
Ships must be allowed to trade unhindered throughout the world in accordance with international law.
Since early November, there have been a number of attacks on international vessels sailing in the vital waterway, which accounts for about 15 percent of international shipping trade.
The initial target was ships linked to Israel, but from the information we have recently received, that does not appear to be the case at this time.
"Imo continues to monitor the situation closely and liaises with industry representatives and the Navy."
The full text of the IMO Secretary-General's video address is available on the United Nations YouTube channel.
Ambassador Chris Lew, the US Representative to the UN on Governance and Reform, said: "These attacks have serious implications for maritime security, international shipping and commerce.
They undermine the fragile humanitarian situation in Yemen and undermine the international community's ability to deliver assistance to more than 21 million people in need."
While the politics behind the statement varied widely, Russia's Permanent representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia similarly condemned the attacks: "We strongly condemn attacks on civilian vessels, which endanger not only the freedom and safety of navigation, but also the lives and health of seafarers."
In addition, they create additional risks and increase instability in an already "dynamite" region.
The UN Security Council issued a statement calling for an end to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea by December 1, 2023.
