Egypt and Saudi Arabia notably absent from Operation Prosperity Guardian as more shipping companies forgo route
The US has announced the creation of an enhanced naval protection force operating in the southern Red Sea in an attempt to ward off mounting attacks from Yemen’s rebel Houthis on merchant shipping.
Britain said it would be among the countries participating but notable absentees were Arab nations Egypt and Saudi Arabia while analysts speculated that shipping would continue to be disrupted and attacks continue.
Lloyd Austin, the US defence secretary, said the new effort would be called Operation Prosperity Guardian and was necessary to tackle the “recent escalation in reckless Houthi attacks originating from Yemen”.
Other participants in the effort, Austin said, included Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain.
Disturbing to see Canada participate in this. Traditional Canadian foreign policy would have opted for a diplomatic intervention here, not immediately going for the colonial warmongering route.
Defending innocent civilians is hardly colonial warmongering. The Houthi rebels are attacking civilian ships. Who should Canada negotiate with? The militia group conducting the attacks or Iran who is backing the militia?