Terrorism in Bab al-Mandab… exhaustion of the international economy and warnings of aggravation "Inflation" Around the world

ABU DHABI, 18 JANUARY / WAM / The attacks on commercial ships in the Bab al-Mandab Strait constituted a global challenge, the effects of which went beyond specific parties to reach levels that threaten the global economy and food security in various countries of the world, after these operations led to raising the prices of goods and commodities, especially foodstuffs that… It witnessed successive increases in its prices during 2024.
The UN Security Council adopted Resolution No. 2722, which condemns the attacks launched by the Houthi group on commercial and transport ships in the Red Sea and demands an immediate cessation of all these attacks.
In the same context, a 2024 report by the United Nations Trade and Development Organization (UNCTAD) warned that the global economy is at increasing risk due to weaknesses in the main maritime routes.
The report indicated that if the crisis in the Red Sea and Panama Canal continues, global consumer prices may rise by 0.6% by 2025, while the impact for small island developing states will be more severe, as prices will rise by 0.9%, and processed food prices may rise by 1.3%. %.
The report explained that redirecting shipments from the Bab al-Mandab Strait to the Cape of Good Hope and increasing distances led to an increase in fuel consumption, wages for cargo ship crews, and insurance premiums, as well as an increase in their exposure to piracy.
The continued Houthi threats to navigation security in the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Red Sea threaten to increase pressures and obstacles to achieving acceptable levels of food security, especially in poor countries and societies. For example, resorting to alternative routes and corridors such as the Cape of Good Hope will increase the duration of transporting these goods between… Asia and Europe at a rate of no less than 14 days, which affects the shelf life of their consumption as well as their prices rising beyond the capacity of low-income people.
The year 2024 witnessed repeated attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea by the Houthi militias in Yemen, some of which were loaded with oil and gas, in an attempt to threaten the security and safety of energy supplies from the Arabian Gulf region to all parts of the world.
According to World Bank data, approximately 30% of oil and 40% of dry goods are transported through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
For its part, the UAE has expressed, since the beginning of the Houthi threats, its deep concern about the repercussions of the attacks on maritime navigation in the Bab al-Mandab region and the Red Sea.
In January 2024, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement in which it said, “The UAE expresses its deep concern about the repercussions of the attacks on maritime navigation in the Bab al-Mandab region and the Red Sea, which represent an unacceptable threat to global trade, the security of the region, and international interests.”
She added: “In this context, the UAE stresses the importance of preserving the security of the region and the interests of its countries and peoples, within the frameworks of international laws and norms.”

In August 2021, during its statement before the General Debate of the Security Council on the issue of maintaining international peace and security, the UAE confirmed its commitment to protecting maritime security, including commercial maritime transport.
In the statement, the UAE expressed its deep concern about the sharp increase in the number of attacks and threats directed against commercial ships in the region, including the recent attacks off its coast and the coast of the Sultanate of Oman, stressing that the repercussions of these attacks extend beyond the borders of the region, as well as About its impact on freedom of navigation and global economic recovery.
In the statement, the UAE called for the necessity of stopping these attacks immediately and allowing ships to sail freely in accordance with international law, and stressed that it will work in close coordination with partners in order to ensure the security and safety of maritime navigation in the region.
It is worth noting that the UAE decided in September 2019 to join the International Alliance for the Security and Protection of Maritime Navigation and to Ensure the Safety of Sea Lanes.

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