BY DENIS LEVEN
Friday March 22, 2024
Houthi rebels have repeatedly attacked vessels in the Red Sea since November, imperiling one of the world's most important shipping lanes. | Mohammed Huwais/AFP via Getty Images)
Yemen's Houthi rebels have assured Russia and China that their ships can safely travel through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, according to a Bloomberg report.
In return, both China and Russia have promised to provide some "political support" to the Shia militant group. The exact nature of the help has not been detailed, but it may include backing them in international institutions, such as by blocking resolutions aimed at the Houthis in the United Nations Security Council, Bloomberg reported.
In January, the Security Council adopted a resolution condemning Houthi attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea; China and Russia abstained during that vote.
Negotiations between Chinese and Russian diplomats and their Houthi counterparts reportedly took place in the Sultanate of Oman, Bloomberg reported.
Earlier this year, a Houthi delegation visited Moscow for talks with Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The parties discussed measures to pressure Israel and the US to bring an end to the conflict in Gaza in which tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed.
Houthi rebels have repeatedly attacked vessels in the Red Sea since November, imperiling one of the world's most important shipping lanes. They claim to target only ships linked to Israel, as the group supports the Palestinians in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The attacks have led to trade and supply disruptions to Western countries.
The United States and the United Kingdom have carried out several rounds of airstrikes against the Houthis in response.
Denis Leven is hosted at POLITICO under the EU-funded EU4FreeMedia residency program.