Barran Press
Manama, Bahrain - May 17, 2024: In his address at the 33rd Arab Summit, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stressed the crucial role of maintaining security in the Red Sea region, emphasizing that freedom of navigation in this vital waterway is a global demand impacting the interests of the entire world.
"The security of the Red Sea is of paramount importance, and the freedom of navigation within it is a global demand related to the interests of the entire world," Prince bin Salman declared. "We must halt any activity that affects the security and safety of maritime navigation."
The Crown Prince reaffirmed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's unwavering commitment to providing humanitarian aid and economic support to Yemen. He also underscored the Kingdom's dedication to mediating dialogue between Yemeni parties, aiming to achieve a lasting political solution and bring an end to the ongoing crisis.
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia remains committed to providing humanitarian aid and economic support to Yemen," Prince bin Salman stated. "We are also dedicated to mediating dialogue between Yemeni parties to reach a political solution and end the crisis."
Prince bin Salman's address echoed the broader call for peaceful conflict resolution throughout the region, emphasizing the Kingdom's unwavering pursuit of security, peace, and prosperity.
The Arab Summit, in its third session, reaffirmed its adherence to the principles of freedom of international navigation and pledged to guarantee the unimpeded flow of maritime traffic in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and the Arabian Gulf.
The "Manama Summit" statement, reviewed by "Barran Press," also reiterated the unwavering support of Arab countries for the Yemeni government's efforts to achieve national reconciliation among all components of the Yemeni people and to unify the Yemeni front.
Furthermore, the statement endorsed international and regional efforts aimed at reaching a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis. This solution would be based on three internationally recognized references: the Gulf Initiative and its executive mechanism, the outcomes of the Yemeni National Dialogue, and UN Security Council Resolution 2216.
Since November 2023, the internationally designated Houthi group has been launching missile and drone attacks against commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea. These attacks have resulted in increased maritime insurance costs and prompted many shipping companies to opt for the much longer route around the southern tip of Africa.
In response to these attacks, the United States, Israel's main ally, formed a multinational alliance in December 2023 to protect maritime navigation. The United States and the United Kingdom are currently engaged in efforts to destroy the mobile Houthi missile sites. However, last week, the Houthis announced plans to expand the scope of their attacks. As a result, ship traffic volumes in the Red Sea remain relatively low, hovering around 40-50% of those observed in the same period last year.