The crises in Yemen, Somalia, and Sudan are one: the collapse of the state along the Red Sea’s shores.
Browsing: RedSea
Egypt is alarmed by Horn of Africa instability and insists Red Sea governance rests solely with its littoral states.
The Houthis have become the most formidable challenger to U.S. maritime dominance since WWII, disrupting global trade through the Red Sea.
A new airstrip on Zuqar Island provides surveillance and interdiction capabilities against Houthi smuggling routes. The UAE-backed National Resistance Forces use such bases to project power and intercept Iranian weapons, complicating Tehran’s support network for the Houthis.
Adversaries have learned they can fracture Western alliances and control strategic chokepoints by staying below retaliation thresholds. This convergence allows China to secure shipping lanes, Russia to gain naval bases, and Iran to project power through proxies like the Houthis.
The agreement provides Israel potential intelligence and naval access to monitor Houthi activities from Somaliland’s coastline. It marks a strategic shift after setbacks with Eritrea and Sudan, seeking to secure maritime routes amid continued regional instability.