Posted on 12/19/2023 5:19:28 AM PST by McGruff
The United States has announced the launch of a multinational force to protect trade in the Red Sea after attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels forced at least a dozen shipping lines to suspend operations.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Monday that Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Seychelles and the United Kingdom would be among the countries joining the 10-nation “multinational security initiative”.
“Countries that seek to uphold the foundational principle of freedom of navigation must come together to tackle the challenge posed by this non-state actor,” Austin said in a statement, describing the attacks as an issue that “demands collective action”.
(Excerpt) Read more at aljazeera.com ...
“Canada’s navy is on route... Should get there by no later than spring.”
It’s sad what happened. Turned into another NATO mooch. At one time they had the world’s third largest navy.
Freedom of navigation has always been part of U.S. foreign policy. Protecting freedom of navigation is certainly better than nation-building in the Middle East. However, I notice that, of this 10-nation coalition, 8 of the countries involved are Western countries, and only 2 are countries are of that region. It seems like more of them ought to share the load, right?
Egypt is close to economic collapse. Their highest concern is the dam being built on the Nile followed by the Palestinian crisis. If they sent forces those would depend on the allies for logistics. Also, do they have the necessary technology and capabilities? Doubtful.
Oil from the Middle East suppliers to India and China does not transit the Red Sea.
China’s imports and exports to Europe do, but they are also sending more via the overland rail routes through Central Asia and Russia or Turkey.
Whats the rules of engagement? Wait to be fired on? Just asking.
My money's on him.
No evidence any drones have been launched to attack American ships.
Those cargo ships are flagged where? Maersk? Not an American company. Its flag country can perform these defense duties.
Besides which, these drones are guided how? Via radio link? Why not jam it and stop shooting. Inertial guidance? That only seeks a predefined lat/long location. Moving targets are immune.
We can believe nothing told us nowadays.
Why would they? They can get oil via the Persian Gulf, straight to India, and never go past Yemen.
Or am I missing something in your post?
This is not just an oil routing issue. It’s a freedom of the seas issue. In that, India has a stake. See what I mean?
But India had a large navy. And they get most of their oil from the Middle East. Will India participate?
You say they have a large navy, and get most of the oil from the Middle East. That insinuates that they are at risk from the Houthi rebels.
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