Chinese and Russian representatives reportedly met with a senior Houthi official named Mohamed Abdel Salam in Oman this week to finalize a safe navigation agreement to protect Chinese and Russian ships in the Red Sea.
Houthis Said In January, junior Houthi leaders privately promised not to attack Russian or Chinese ships.
The Houthi terrorist campaign has reportedly focused on ships registered to Israel or its close allies, such as the US and UK, but Yemeni militants have attacked numerous ships that do not meet that criteria. . At least one Houthi missile attack is known to have compromised Russian oil shipments.
A view of the oil tanker Merlin Luanda, which went up in flames after an attack in the Gulf of Aden, January 27, 2024 (Indian Navy via Associated Press)
“Several people familiar with armed groups’ discussions” Said Bloomberg News reported Thursday that Chinese and Russian diplomats in Oman have finalized a formal agreement for safe passage with Salam.
In return for guarantees of safe passage, China and Russia appear to have promised “political support to the Houthis in institutions such as the United Nations Security Council.” The most obvious help that Beijing and Moscow could provide would be to use their veto power to block a UN resolution against the Houthis, a service that Iran’s main backers cannot provide.
Michael Kurilla, Chief of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Said The House Armed Services Committee announced Thursday that China and Russia are already supporting the Houthis and accepting safe passage in return.
“Russia and China are given a walkover for any movement through the Red Sea. This means that Iran uses proxies to allow Russia and China access through the Red Sea, while blocking access for other countries. ” he said.
Kurilla said China’s safe navigation was, in part, a reward for continuing to buy Iranian oil through a “shadow fleet” of oil tankers that evade sanctions, and that tankers carry secret cargo at sea. They illegally blocked the tanker’s identification and tracking systems to allow it to carry out the shipment. He said Iran is investing the profits from these oil sales into developing drones that it will sell to Russia for use against Ukraine.
“China is also interested in purchasing Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles,” he noted.
Kurilla added that Russia may be preparing to provide more advanced military technology to Iran, but said U.S. intelligence on the matter is classified.
Despite the Biden administration, Houthi missile and drone attacks continue. promise To protect shipping in the Red Sea.On Tuesday, the Houthis claimed It is believed that multiple missiles attacked a US oil tanker in the Red Sea.
pentagon Said On Thursday, the Houthis announced at least 50 attacks on ships off the coast of Yemen since November.
On November 20, 2023, Yemen’s Houthi fighters seize the Galaxy Leader Cargo on the Red Sea coast off Hodeidah. (Houthi movement, via Getty Images)
