Senator Marco Rubio, Vice Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has sharply criticized President Biden's approach to the Houthi rebels in Yemen, labeling it "misguided" and arguing that it has harmed American interests. Rubio, who also serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, claims that Biden's policies have encouraged the Iran-backed group, leading to increased instability in the region and economic repercussions for the United States.

In an article published on the National Review website, Rubio asserts that Biden's decision to remove the Houthis from the list of foreign terrorist organizations shortly after taking office has effectively lifted restrictions on their access to funding, weapons, and international support. He also criticizes Biden's termination of support for Saudi-led counterterrorism operations against the Houthis, citing concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

Rubio argues that these concessions, intended to encourage the Houthis to negotiate, have backfired. Instead of disarming, the Houthis have gained control of major population centers in Yemen, launched attacks on Abu Dhabi, and continued to terrorize civilians.

He highlights the significant impact of Houthi attacks on global shipping in the Red Sea, which carries 30% of global container traffic. These attacks, he says, have driven up shipping costs from China to the West Coast by 235% since December 2023, with even greater increases for routes that previously passed through the Red Sea. Rubio warns that the disruption to global supply chains directly impacts American consumers.

Rubio further criticizes Biden's reluctance to authorize strikes against Houthi leaders and weapons depots, claiming that the administration has only approved strikes on empty depots and "drone launch sites," which he describes as essentially empty land. He also criticizes Biden's refusal to arm allies willing to fight the Houthis, preferring instead to deploy US naval ships in the Red Sea, despite their need elsewhere.

Rubio argues that Biden's policies, designed to avoid "escalation," have had the opposite effect. He warns that by allowing the Houthis to attack Americans and disrupt the global economy with impunity, the US is encouraging further aggression.

He calls for a return to the Trump administration's policies, which he believes kept the Houthis in check. These include supporting counterterrorism operations by allies, applying maximum pressure on Iran, and establishing clear red lines regarding the safety of Americans.

Rubio concludes by stating that unless Biden corrects course and imposes a significant cost on the Houthis, Americans can expect continued price increases and a greater risk to their lives.

The article comes amidst a backdrop of escalating tensions in the Red Sea, with the Houthis launching numerous attacks on commercial ships since last November. This has led to increased maritime insurance costs and prompted many shipping companies to opt for the much longer route around the southern tip of Africa.

In December 2023, the United States, a key ally of Israel, formed a multinational coalition to protect maritime traffic from Houthi attacks. While the US has conducted occasional strikes against Houthi military targets, the conflict remains unresolved and poses a significant challenge to regional stability and global trade.