The formation of a multinational alliance by the United States for "Red Sea Escort," with the absence of all major Middle Eastern powers, what are the reasons for this? What impact does the absence of major Middle Eastern powers have on the alliance's actions?
n the 18th local time, US Defense Secretary Austin announced the formation of a multinational naval coalition to deploy a large number of naval assets to deter Houthi militants and protect ships transiting the Red Sea. However, several media outlets have noticed that no major Middle Eastern country openly participated in this alliance. After the outbreak of the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Houthi militants in Yemen immediately declared their support for Hamas and the Palestinian cause, stating that they would target any ships heading to Israel. In recent days, Houthi militants have significantly expanded their operations, forcing several international shipping companies to announce the suspension of routes through the Red Sea. Approximately 12% of global shipping routes pass through the Red Sea, making it one of the busiest maritime routes in the world. According to a list released by the United States, the countries currently participating in the alliance, known as “Guardians of Prosperity,” include the United States, the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain, a total of ten countries. The United States stated that the “Guardians of Prosperity” will conduct maritime patrols and defensive operations to protect Red Sea navigation and respond to the challenge posed by Houthi militants launching ballistic missiles and drones at commercial ships in international waters. The Spanish Ministry of Defense subsequently denied participation in this operation on the 19th, stating that it could not unilaterally make that decision. The US military’s deployment of forces around Yemen. The US has formed a multinational alliance for “Red Sea Escort,” with the absence of all major Middle Eastern powers.
This is a very ominous signal. It is about the United States and Israel.
When Zhao Gao pointed at a deer and called it a horse, everyone went along with it. Was it because a deer should really be called a horse?
No, it was because Zhao Gao had great power, and everyone was afraid.
Those who spoke the truth were later killed by Zhao Gao.
Zhao Gao had the power to distort right and wrong. How long could such power last? It did not end with the killing of Meng Tian or Li Si. It ended only after he killed Emperor Hu Hai.
Although people were still afraid, “non-violent non-cooperation” became the consensus.
So, he later wanted to become emperor and sought the support of ministers.
What was the result?
Even though the ministers were very afraid, they all kept quiet.
Zhao Gao realized that he had “Heaven does not agree, and the ministers do not agree.”
He did not dare to become emperor.
Later, he met a tragic end.
In the past, when the United States wanted to attack Yugoslavia, Libya, or Iraq, everyone rallied behind them.
Was it because they were right? No, it was because they were powerful.
When they attacked Yugoslavia, everyone followed.
The first time they attacked Iraq, everyone followed.
The second time they attacked Iraq, some chose non-violent non-cooperation.
When they invaded Afghanistan, they ended up doing it on their own.
Although some did not cooperate, no one dared to oppose them.
And now? Actually, it reached its peak from the moment the United States allowed Israel to demand the resignation of the UN Secretary-General. It was equivalent to Zhao Gao killing Hu Hai. It was like the King of Chu trying to “ascend the throne.”
Overstepping.
When an extremely bad person or organization oversteps, it’s the end. You must demonstrate your strength that matches your overstepping.
Otherwise, if your strength doesn’t match your overstepping, you’ll face a boomerang.
Now, strength has a reference, like the Emperor’s New Clothes.
For example, Malaysia has started to “sanction” Israel. There’s no way around it.
For example, the Houthis attacked a merchant ship, and they complied.
For example, Iran allowed your helicopter to land, and you landed obediently like a three-year-old.
So, the non-violent non-cooperation of the Middle Eastern powers is already giving face.
From another perspective, countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE find it very difficult to engage in non-violent non-cooperation.
Because they are deeply tied to the American chariot. Their assets are in the United States, and they have American troops in their countries. Freezing assets or orchestrating political coups, either is a matter of minutes.
A few days ago, the Deputy Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran came to China, and it was clear that Saudi Arabia was seeking assurance from Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The joint statement of these three countries also boosted their confidence.
Then they engaged in non-violent non-cooperation. The timing was quite right. It expressed their position while avoiding freezing their assets or overthrowing the regime.
This is a significant progress.
As for other countries, such as Turkey, they can openly say they won’t participate and so on, but they are also being restrained by others.
Taking this step of non-violent non-cooperation actually opens the door for the next step.
Because Malaysia has already pointed out: Israel’s actions are “continuous atrocities”!
This characterization is actually stunning.
Because the “anti-Semitism” label has always been Israel’s shield for all its actions. So, when Germany, France, Austria, and other countries characterize these “continuous atrocities,” they also awkwardly say: first, support Israel’s right to self-defense, then condemn Hamas terrorism, then ask Israel to pay attention to “humanitarian” issues.
It’s really awkward to split one sentence into three.
Malaysia directly said: these are “continuous atrocities.”
Previously, Russia also said, “Israel, were you attacked on your own territory? Clearly, you have occupied someone else’s land, and they are driving you out. What right to self-defense do you have?”
So, in terms of theoretical basis, two points have already been liberated:
1. Israel has no “right to self-defense."
2. These are “continuous atrocities.” Without so many messy prerequisites, don’t talk about “anti-Semitism."
In practice, when the truth slowly ferments in the future, the American people will also come to understand that many of their actions are about human rights and freedom of speech, and have nothing to do with “anti-Semitism.”
The hat of “anti-Semitism” that others put on you can’t hold everything.
These things have gone off-topic. Returning to the non-violent non-cooperation of the Middle Eastern powers this time, its real significance is equivalent to the time when Zhao Gao wanted to become emperor, and those ministers, although they didn’t oppose, kept their heads down and remained silent.
So, the United States itself knows, “Heaven does not agree, and the ministers do not agree."
Stop trying to distort the facts, stop pretending to be the big bad wolf.
Europe is currently timid and indecisive, Japan is currently unable to achieve much, and the United States is finding it difficult to control situations everywhere – all of which Chairman Mao Zedong predicted during his lifetime.
The United States has been abandoned by Arab countries on the grounds of morality.
The hegemonic system of the United States in the Middle East is showing signs of collapse.
The United States' grand plan is to contract globally,
and then concentrate its strength to ensnare China in a quagmire of war, ultimately undermining China.
However, this contraction is not going smoothly.
Countries that were previously bullied by the U.S. hegemony are rising up in resistance,
and in the blink of an eye, the United States finds itself trapped in the very war quagmire it had fantasized about.
This can only be blamed on the United States itself.
The United States constantly deceived people by claiming to be the embodiment of justice and a beacon for humanity,
but it turns out it failed to deceive the rest of the world.
Instead, it deceived itself,
thinking that it could easily deal with China as long as it contracted globally.
The stark reality of fires erupting on all sides clearly tells the United States
how much it is disliked by others.
To confront China, seventeen countries have formed a coalition, known as the United Nations forces.
Even when dealing with Houthi militants, a multinational coalition is deemed necessary.
Houthi militants: Quite an honor.
Treating others as fools is the act of a true fool…
There’s a tweet on X, claiming that the Houthi militants have prepared mines for U.S. warships. This seems like they are gearing up for a major move…
Trump designated the Houthis as a terrorist organization, and then Biden, in an effort to contain Saudi Arabia, removed the Houthis from that list. It’s likely that Biden will soon put the Houthis back on the list…
In addition to this, there’s an interesting development where Malaysia has banned Israeli-owned Star Navigation from using the Malacca Strait, controlled by Malaysia, and from docking at Malaysian ports. This move could potentially lead to the bankruptcy of Star Navigation.
In the first half of the year, Star Navigation was already struggling, with its expected profits of five small targets turning into losses of five small targets. Now, with this latest development, neither the Malacca nor Suez Canal can be used. What’s the point? Are they planning to navigate through ice in the Arctic?
The reason Malaysia is taking this action is because it is a Muslim country, and the other country along the Malacca Strait, Indonesia, is also a Muslim country.
The main purpose of the U.S. exercise “Prosperous Guardian” is not primarily to target the Houthi militants, nor is it genuinely about safeguarding navigation. The primary goal of the United States is to bring together Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, among other countries, to form an anti-Iran alliance. Countries like the UK and France are merely supporting actors in this endeavor.
In essence, it’s like the United States, as a big trickster, created a group with its own multiple accounts and is waiting to deceive Saudi Arabia. Within the group, there’s only one Saudi Arabia, and the rest are impostors…
In this way, between Arab countries and Iran, the United States has once again successfully played the role of a troublemaker, complicating the conflicts between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis (Iran), and ultimately shifting the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the conflicts between the Arab states and Iran.
However, this plan failed to materialize as Saudi Arabia, the country that the United States had high hopes for, did not ultimately join the U.S. alliance. According to relevant information, there were disagreements between the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE regarding how to respond to Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea. U.S. officials said that this “complicated efforts to form a unified response to the Houthi group."
The only Arab country participating in this operation is Bahrain, and no other country is involved.
The reason Saudi Arabia did not participate is because everyone in the region is experienced and shrewd. Although Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is from the post-80s generation, he is exceptionally skilled and not inferior in political maneuvering. Otherwise, he would not have been able to use such vigorous means to outmaneuver his fellow princes and ascend to power.
In terms of ruthlessness, a character like Mohammed bin Salman, who can imprison his own mother, is in no way comparable to characters like Biden, who show unrestricted favoritism to Hunter. The political environment in which Salman operated before becoming Crown Prince was far more complex than what Biden is dealing with.
Furthermore, the Houthi militants are not fools. Shortly after news about the “Prosperous Guardian” alliance emerged, the Houthis stated that if countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar helped the United States attack Yemen, the Houthis would attack their oil fields. As a result, the alliance that originally included Saudi Arabia was reduced to only Bahrain as an Arab country.
Saudi Arabia backed down and decided not to play along with the United States. Now, it’s only the Houthi militants and a group of impostors left, and the United States probably no longer has the mood to play along.
No, I have just one question, why create a multi-country alliance for dealing with the Houthi militants?
I hope that when the United States is vigorously organizing a joint fleet, it should not forget that it was Israel that first blockaded the sea route to Gaza. The Houthi armed group is just retaliating in kind!
Currently, it’s not only Palestine that needs humanitarian supplies, but Israel also requires goods to support its fragile economy. Israel’s important port, Eilat Port, admits that due to Houthi attacks, profits have plummeted by 80% to 85%. If the attacks continue, Israel will find it difficult to bear the losses in overseas trade and high transportation costs.
It was Israel that initially blockaded the sea route to Gaza in an attempt to suffocate the Palestinian people. It was the Houthis who retaliated in kind! The Houthis have made it clear that if food and medicine cannot enter Gaza, any ships heading to Israel will be considered “legitimate targets” by their organization. In other words, the Houthi armed group is targeting specific vessels, and the attacks will stop when Israel allows food and medicine into Gaza.
To resolve an issue, one must look to its source. Israel’s ceasefire may be because it, too, is finding it difficult to continue!
Forming a joint fleet is undoubtedly a good idea, but the problem is this: the Houthi armed group only targets Israeli ships, not ships of other countries, especially Arab ones. Why should Arabs be labeled as “traitors” for showing filial piety to Israel? If the United States decides to send troops to fight the Houthis now, it might find it hard to hold its head high in the Arab world in the future…
The United States may have filial piety, but other countries also have their interests. Moreover, the cost of forming this joint fleet is not a small sum, and who would do such a thankless task?
Furthermore, the Red Sea coastline is over 2,000 kilometers long, with 17,000 cargo ships passing through the Mandeb Strait every day. The Houthi attacks are extensive, and suicide drones are cheap and effective, with a significant quantity. A few warships patrolling the sea surface are like a drop in the ocean, and their protective range is very limited.
Therefore, in the past two months, the Houthi armed group has gone on a killing spree! They have blockaded the Mandeb Strait indiscriminately. At the drop of a hat, they open fire. As long as merchant ships traveling to and from the Red Sea are related to Israel, they become their targets.
From December 1st until now, in half a month, the “slipper army” has attacked at least two to three dozen Red Sea merchant ships. Israel probably never expected that in this round of Israel-Palestine conflict, they would be held at bay by the Houthis.
Israel’s total foreign goods trade in 2022 reached a staggering $172.81 billion, with imports at $106.32 billion and exports at $66.49 billion. This accounts for one-third of its GDP, indicating that the Israeli economy heavily relies on imports.
If the Red Sea crisis is not resolved, Israel may “starve."
The “Little Bully” has also considered restoring its honor, but the problem is that the “slipper army” doesn’t give it any leeway. It’s reported that on the 16th, the Israeli military sent four main warships to the Red Sea, preparing to attack the Houthi armed group. The result was a sound beating by the Houthis. Although they intercepted some drones and missiles, they couldn’t withstand the saturation attacks. All four main warships were hit, emitting thick smoke, and had to retreat!
Inevitably, the United States had to step in and organize a joint fleet to deal with the Houthi armed group. This is truly extraordinary, considering that since the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, the basic strategy of the United States has been to fight proxy wars. The fact that the Biden administration has made a decision against its ancestors shows that the Houthi armed group’s strategy is extremely clever.
In short, Russia is confronting the West with its national strength, and now, the “slipper army” has besieged the Middle East. Great powers are increasingly reluctant to take the lead. If the West bombs the Houthis this time, it will likely lead to long-lasting enmity, and the future will depend on the China-Europe Express. Isn’t this a great upheaval not seen in a century?
Israel cut off Hamas’s supply route, and the Houthi armed group cut off Israel’s supply route. This is called attacking the enemy’s vital points. The United States and Israel have no choice but to bolster their courage with little brothers, but they can’t gather enough people. This is choosing tactics “based on strength and position.” War is about economics. Only by hurting Israel will it restrain itself and realize that there are organizations in the world it dare not provoke. The United States' response is quite amusing. Forming a multinational fleet to escort, creating a joint fleet out of a small armed group, is it meant to demonstrate U.S. leadership? Or is it meant to reveal the essence of the U.S., which appears great but is weak at its core? Israel seeking peace is even more interesting. The small Houthi organization is exposing the lie that the United States is capable of winning two wars.
In the current Israel-Palestine conflict, countries like Saudi Arabia, which are seen as prominent actors, have openly expressed their strong support for Palestine. However, in practical terms, they have actively compromised with Israel.
The Red Sea escort operation is no different. While they officially do not participate, in reality, they provide Israel with alternative routes to bypass the blockade and offer full logistical cooperation with the United States. Their assistance to Israel surpasses that of European countries that have deployed troops.
Of course, this does not mean they will blindly follow Israel’s lead. The strategy of these influential nations against Israel involves continuously delivering humanitarian aid, building hospitals, and providing food to Gaza. As long as Gaza has a population of millions, Israel will have difficulty converting them into supporters of Hamas. By channeling financial support through Qatar, they can effectively restrain Israel.
This approach may be seen as both timid and devious, but for now, it seems to be working and ensures the safety of these influential nations.
As an aside, on December 18, 2023, the Hong Kong cargo ship “Silver Galaxy” sailed through the Persian Gulf under the watchful eye of a multinational fleet, and no one dared to interfere.
But thirty years ago, on July 23, 1993, the United States falsely accused the Chinese cargo ship “Silver Galaxy” of transporting raw materials for chemical weapons to Iran, creating the sensational “Silver Galaxy” incident. The “Silver Galaxy” cargo ship was forced to undergo inspection at Dammam Port.
Thirty years have passed, and things have changed. It’s still the “Silver Galaxy,” but what’s different is that times have changed, and we have stood tall.
This is not a coincidence. The “Silver Galaxy” in ‘93 was a fully containerized cargo ship owned by China Ocean Shipping Group’s Guangzhou Ocean Shipping Company. On July 7, 1993, the ship departed as planned from Tianjin New Port after loading, passing through Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Jakarta, and finally carrying a total of 628 containers, sailing to the Middle East, with an expected arrival date of August 3 in Dubai Port in the Persian Gulf for unloading, then heading to Dammam Port in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait Port.
The COSCO in Hong Kong’s COSCO Galaxy stands for China Ocean Shipping Group. The “Silver Galaxy” of that year was just an ordinary ten-thousand-ton container ship, whereas today’s “Silver Galaxy” is the world’s most advanced 200,000-ton giant container ship.
In other words, this “Silver Galaxy” not only shares the same name but even its current voyage is intentional. This can be seen as an Eastern form of romantic revenge, perhaps.
This multinational alliance is a super joke.
Not to mention the Middle Eastern powers, even the 10 countries recently announced by the United States, each country has its experts in the art of persuasion, no less skilled than Zhao Benshan. Let’s analyze them one by one.
- Spain has made it clear that they have no intention of sending warships.
Why? Their cabinet and people strongly disapprove of Israel’s actions, and the cabinet aligns with public opinion. This country has its own unique characteristics. Last year, under U.S. pressure, they sent a 19th-century sailing ship to sail freely in East Asia, conducting a crossing exercise with modern U.S. aircraft carriers.
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The caretaker government of the Netherlands expressed that they will not send warships, but they will support the operation by sending two staff members to participate in planning and guidance.
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Canada, upon seeing this, immediately declared, as brothers of Angsa, we have an obligation, and we will send three staff members to observe and guide.
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Norway, feeling the pressure, promptly announced that this is a rare opportunity, and they will send a 10-member staff team to participate, with the mission still being guidance.
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Italy, on the other hand, announced that they will send a frigate to participate, but the departure time is not confirmed.
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France and the UK, being too enthusiastic, have already participated in intercepting Houthi armed drones. They can’t just return, right? But they have their tricks. France announced that its ship will be commanded by the French Ministry of Defense, and the UK announced that only one of its two ships in the Arabian Sea can be deployed, while the other one has to stay back to fight pirates.
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Bahrain and Seychelles, one is 400 square kilometers, the other is 700 square kilometers, with armies of less than 1,000 people, and their navies are not much different from the Mongolian navy. They are just there for show.
Upon closer examination, this grandiose joint operation, apart from the U.S. aircraft carrier task force, has only added two British and French warships, oh, and 15 foreign staff members to provide guidance. It remains to be seen whether the battle-hardened U.S. Navy will take their guidance. Right now, it’s like a bunch of Zhao Benshans trying to fool Fan Wei, and it’s hard to get them to buy into it.
Thirty-two years ago, at the behest of the United States, over a dozen countries with more than 800,000 troops and nearly a hundred warships gathered in the Gulf, causing Iraq to retreat from Kuwait in embarrassment. The scene of everything thriving and full of vitality back then is no longer to be found, making one lament the decline of the empire.
No early rising without benefit, no loss of opportunity when there is gain. Rotterdam Port in the Netherlands is the largest port in Europe, and most of the ships that come and go have to pass through the Red Sea. The Dutch are very clever. By provoking the Houthi armed group, they have created future problems. When the escort mission ends, who will the Houthi seek redress from? As for Norway and Canada, recently due to disruptions in shipping and rising oil and gas prices, these two oil and gas resource-rich countries are making a fortune in silence, isn’t it lucrative?
Europe is not foolish. To offend the Middle East for the sake of Israel, especially when the Red Sea is the lifeline of the Mediterranean, is to create future economic losses for themselves. After all, people need to have a full stomach before discussing values.
Image source: Internet, delete if infringing
The Houthi armed group only targets ships related to Israel, such as those transporting supplies to Israel or U.S. military vessels.
In terms of both reason and sentiment, major Middle Eastern countries have no reason to support the United States.
The Houthi armed group is essentially a regional insurgent force, commonly referred to as the “Slipper Army.”
It’s unclear what the United States is afraid of, but they are busy forming alliances.
Damn it, just send ground troops over and wipe them out, it wouldn’t take more than a few minutes. /dog head
This “coalition action” is a big pit! The issue isn’t how the absence of major Middle Eastern powers affects the coalition action, but how it affects the United States. Biden might end up as the gravedigger of the empire!
Recently, the Houthi armed group in Yemen has become the “top player” globally, causing chaos in the Red Sea, disrupting the entire shipping industry.
From early November to now, the Houthi armed group has carried out 17 attacks, using various means, including ballistic missiles, suicide drones, and even armed helicopters.
In short, they’re playing with “fire."
Initially, the Houthi armed group claimed they would only target Israeli ships, but their targets escalated, directly aiming at all ships heading to Israeli ports.
On December 12, a Norwegian ship was hit by a missile, igniting a massive fire, which was fortunately brought under control.
On December 15, the Houthi armed group struck again, launching simultaneous attacks on four ships using drones and missiles. And the day before yesterday, a German cargo ship was hit and caught fire in waters near Yemen. Now, the Red Sea has become the Houthi armed group’s territory, “my turf, my rules; if anyone dares to challenge me, I’ll take them down!"
Faced with this relentless adversary, four out of the world’s top five container shipping companies have “surrendered,” announcing the suspension of their shipping operations through the Red Sea. They are forced to prioritize lives over profits.
So, they have decided, at a significant cost, to take the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, then enter the Mediterranean through the Strait of Gibraltar, adding more than 7,000 kilometers to their shipping routes. These four shipping companies (Mediterranean Shipping Company, Maersk, CMA CGM, and Hapag-Lloyd) are major players with a significant share of the global market!
Interestingly, the fourth-ranked COSCO, China’s China COSCO Shipping Group, has no intention of stopping its operations. This speaks volumes.
Due to the significant impact of the Houthi armed group, not only Israel and Europe but the entire global supply chain will experience severe delays. The United States will face increasing international criticism due to its unwavering support for Israel.
The Americans are well aware of this. A White House official said, “Due to U.S. support for Israel, hostility towards the United States in the world is increasing day by day, making it difficult for the United States to gain support in international affairs.”
So, the U.S. is getting anxious! Damn it, Houthi armed group, you’re in for it!
U.S. Secretary of Defense Austin speaks out: The actions of the Houthi armed group have already violated international law.
International law? How can the U.S. say that with a straight face?
It seems that the Americans are taking action. Immediately after Austin’s statement, the U.S. assembled a “group,” with members including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Bahrain, Seychelles, and Spain. Austin said this “escort alliance” will defend the Red Sea and combat the disruptive actions of the Houthi armed group.
But as soon as Austin finished speaking, within 24 hours, Spain backed out. Yesterday, at around 8 p.m. Beijing time, the Spanish Ministry of Defense announced: Spain will not participate in the U.S.-led Red Sea escort operation at this time.
Even more interesting is that one of the “group members,” Seychelles, if you look at a world map, is just a tiny dot. With a total population of 100,000 and an army of 800, its navy consists of only two wooden sailing ships.
Can they really fight a war?
The Houthi armed group, in our terms, is the type that’s fearless and daring. If they dare to come, they’ll face consequences no matter what.
Just recently, the Houthi spokesperson firmly stated, “Any attack on Yemen, and we will turn the Red Sea into a battlefield!”
Damn it, this is enough to scare the international community. If the Red Sea and the Suez Canal are not peaceful, the whole world will suffer. The already fragile world economy will undoubtedly suffer heavy blows.
And that’s not all! Houthi political bureau member Al-Houthi subsequently threatened Saudi Arabia and the UAE: “If you join the American ‘escort alliance,’ the Houthi armed group will attack all your oil and gas refineries, sink all ships carrying oil, and bring winter to Europe and America immediately."
I wonder how those Middle Eastern countries feel about this. In fact, Bahrain, among those joining, is acting foolishly.
Furthermore, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, having recently warmly welcomed Putin and engaged in heated political, economic, and diplomatic activities with eastern powers, are clearly distancing themselves strategically from the United States. How could they possibly join the American “escort alliance”?
Since the main focus of this article is the Houthi armed group in Yemen, let’s talk a bit more about this organization.
Yemen is one of the poorest and most turbulent countries in the world. In 2022, Yemen had a per capita GDP of only $676.9, with a daily per capita income of just $18. Currently, 8 million people in Yemen are suffering from hunger, and years of conflict have resulted in the deaths and injuries of more than 13,000 women and children, with over 5 million people displaced.
The Houthi armed group is a Shiite armed rebel organization in
Israel: Declares war on women and children, declares war on Hamas, declares war on the Gaza press corps, declares war on the United Nations, declares war on humanity.
Houthi Armed Group: Declares war on Israel, declares war on the United States, the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain.
As I said before, without daring to eliminate the Houthi, there is no country near the Red Sea that really wants to offend the Houthi.
How long can the U.S. escort last? Do multinational fleets have to spend money? Everyone is clear in their hearts.
But the Houthi in Yemen are forever armed in Yemen! Everyone is even clearer in their hearts.
You tell me that now you have offended the Houthi in Yemen and the United States has left, and the Houthi have come to retaliate, and the United States no longer cares. What are you going to do? When Saudi Arabia fought the Houthi back then, it asked for help from the United States. Did the United States help? The United States will only say, “It’s not my business.” Now, Israel is in trouble, and the United States is asking Saudi Arabia and others to step up. Are Saudi Arabia and others really foolish or naive?
The contraction of U.S. military power will inevitably lead to the collapse of its hegemony, this is reality, it’s just that Americans themselves don’t admit it. But there are no real fools in the world, everyone sees the problem behind the United States in Ukraine and Israel, a global hegemon who has no ability to support a war to victory is just waste, everyone doesn’t say it out loud but thinks so, aren’t they all vying to dig a corner of your American wall?
Take Lithuania, for example, which strongly opposes China but is now looking for ways to repair its relationship with China. However, China is unlikely to be enthusiastic because China fundamentally no longer needs it. The Russian market is obviously more useful than the Baltic countries, and this is the fundamental factor in international communication, balancing the pros and cons through various comparisons. The same goes for the United States. Once U.S. military power is no longer useful, it will be abandoned in minutes, and no one will really rely on the United States just because of American culture and economy, especially in the Middle East, where the American economy and culture are in opposition. The contraction of U.S. military power means that even the Houthi will have more say than the United States, which is the difference between daring and not daring.
The international discourse power generated by the economy and culture is actually unreliable. Economically, China’s real economy has already surpassed that of the United States + the European Union, but China’s international discourse power has not exceeded that of the United States + the European Union, although there has been a trend in recent years to exceed that of the European Union, but it is still lower than that of the United States. Culturally, South Korea’s attempt to apply its cultural sway has failed miserably, and practically speaking, culture is not as effective as economics. At the bottom of the world, the logic is violence, whoever has the most powerful violence has the ultimate right to interpret everything.
Take, for example, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, or the Russia-Ukraine war, few people call it Russia’s military operation. But when the United States invaded Iraq, it was called the Gulf War, when the United States invaded Afghanistan, it was called the Afghan War, and earlier invasions of Vietnam were called the Vietnam War, and the invasion of Somalia was called Black Hawk Down. Do you see the word “American” in these invasions? There are even earlier examples, such as Columbus, who essentially invaded the New World but is called Columbus’s discovery of the New World.
Indigenous people: “Discover your ghost, we’ve known about this continent for a long time.” Gradual loss of military power by the United States will also lead to the loss of its discourse power, a new world joke book is waiting for the United States behind it, no matter how much the U.S. dollar helps the United States cover it up, it is useless, who told the United States not to reflect on itself?
The reason for the absence in the Middle East is quite simple - they can’t win.
The United States probably can’t win either.
Saudi Arabia has been fighting the Houthi for many years, but there is no effective way to deal with them.
Although the Houthi cannot penetrate Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia also has no effective means against the Houthi.
The current situation essentially acknowledges defeat.
What the merchant ships in the Red Sea are facing is not Somali pirates looking to plunder, but the Houthi who are focused on attacking ships.
In the face of vast land and the combined naval and air forces of the United States, despite having an absolute technological advantage, it is almost impossible to eliminate the threat posed by the Houthi.
In the end, as long as the Houthi don’t stop, the U.S. military will have to face prolonged confrontation and extensive war support. This can effectively support Hamas’s resistance from the side. In the end, it all comes down to endurance.
Escorting the Red Sea is not primarily about “military,” but about “diplomacy."
If it’s possible to rally a bunch of allies in the Middle East to take a few steps together, it can prove that the lighthouse still has appeal and can differentiate the Arab world from within.
Currently, the Middle East is unusually united and not buying into the United States’ agenda. Bahrain, which had to step in, has a U.S. military base. Although other Western countries have shown diplomatic unity with the United States, it’s uncertain whether they will really get involved militarily. Seychelles…is just making up the numbers, like Bahrain, it has a military base, but its presence is far less significant than Bahrain’s.
Diplomatic failures have reasons. Since the Israel-Palestine conflict, the United States has repeatedly vetoed ceasefire proposals or resolutions at the United Nations Security Council, which has disappointed the entire Middle East. They no longer believe that the U.S. actions are aimed at maintaining peace but rather see such escort missions as siding with Israel. Under these circumstances, any Arab country participating in the U.S. escort operation will be seen as siding with Israel and abandoning Palestine.
Now, it depends on whether the Houthi rebels and Iran are determined to escalate the conflict intensity and the game the United States will play in response.
Iran definitely doesn’t want the Israel-Palestine conflict to spill over. The arms embargo imposed on the Houthi rebels this time is essentially a maximum pressure tactic, betting on the assumption that the United States is reluctant to get directly involved in a war. If the United States can turn the tables and deter the Houthi rebels and Iran, then the Suez Canal crisis may temporarily ease. If it can’t achieve deterrence, then it depends on whether the U.S. domestic opinion is willing to persuade Israel to cease fire. This is unlikely, as U.S. officials have recently gone to show support for Netanyahu, indicating that they don’t want to impose a timeline on Israel’s actions, in other words, they don’t insist on Israel stopping quickly.
Let’s wait and see. Enjoy the show.
Salman al-Saud said, “After I took office, I did a few things on the foreign front: Pro-American, pro-Israel to counter Iran, intervened in the Syrian civil war, and got involved in a ground fight with Houthi militants. If there’s one more thing, it’s imposing economic sanctions on Qatar. I’m quite modest; I’ve made a small contribution."
This Salman, he’s ambitious, full of ideas, and could be called a generation’s leader. The prerequisite is that he can accurately assess and use Saudi Arabia’s strength. His idea is to be pro-American, counter the arc of resistance, and firmly establish Saudi Arabia as the big brother in the Middle East. The result is that the first step stumbled. Khashoggi was just an ordinary opposition figure, with an American background but nothing special. People like him are killed every year, and it shouldn’t have attracted much attention. But he died during Trump’s tenure, directly becoming a weapon for the Democrats to attack Trump, raising it to an inappropriate level. Saudi-U.S. relations became a casualty of U.S. domestic strife. The path of being pro-American stumbled like this. Interfering in the Syrian civil war, Bashar al-Assad got stronger and stronger. Getting involved in a ground fight with the Houthi militants, holding a full set of American weaponry, and being turned into a rookie with experience. Trying to pull little brothers to sanction Qatar, Qatar didn’t suffer much, and the little brothers even got richer. Modestly speaking, nothing significant was achieved externally. Fortunately, as a mature politician, Salman didn’t panic. After all, his previous diplomatic routes were all disasters. In addition, after the United States, led by a certain East Asian power, failed in trade wars and proxy wars, he promptly put aside differences and reconciled with Iran with the mediation of the East. Solely loving little America, you haven’t accomplished anything. As the saying goes, if one punch doesn’t work, it invites a hundred punches. Loving little America hasn’t achieved anything good in all these years, be it in cold wars, hot wars, economic wars, or military wars; the whole world sees it. Now that Israel is making such a fuss, it’s hard for various forces in the Middle East not to have ideas. Now, trying to pull Saudi Arabia into the game with empty promises, isn’t that too abrupt?
With a population of 100,000 and a total force of less than 500 in Seychelles? Am I seeing things? Seriously, I’ve looked at it three times, and it is indeed Seychelles.
Of course, there is also the Middle East’s only “big country,” Bahrain, with a population of 1.5 million and a total force of 11,000, participating. In any case, it can be considered that the 10-country quota is filled. China has an idiom, “perfect in every way.” However, whether this multinational escort fleet is “perfect in every way” is another matter.
Currently, the specific warships participating in this escort have not been officially announced. If you look at the “scale” of the navies of Seychelles and Bahrain, don’t guess, it’s mostly U.S. Navy ships. The United States needs to make a show and create buzz, so it doesn’t matter if they have any warships or not. The problem is that none of the major Middle Eastern powers participated, and even the previously highly touted United Arab Emirates did not join. The United States has been slapped in the face. Now, it’s basically a Western fleet. It’s hard to tell what will happen next. If during the escort, someone’s warship gets hit, someone runs away halfway, or someone only goes to the outer part of the Red Sea without entering, then it will be awkward. However, don’t underestimate the United States' bottom line for resisting embarrassment. There is a saying, as long as you are not embarrassed yourself, then others will be the ones embarrassed!