United States Secretary of States, Antony Blinken has said that the Houthi attacks in Red Sea have disrupted or diverted nearly 20 percent of global shipping and more than a dozen shipping companies have had to reroute thousands of vessels around the Cape of Good Hope.
Blinken who disclosed this while meeting with Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Sunday added that these attacks on freedom of navigation in Red Sea have directly affected citizens, the cargo, the commercial interests of more than 40 countries.
“And what that means is it takes longer to get goods to where they’re supposed to go, it increases the cost and that cost gets passed on to consumers around the world, whether it’s food, whether it’s fuel, whether it’s medicine, humanitarian assistance, you name it”, Blinken lamented.
According to him, “since October 7th and the horrific attacks on Israel. It’s now, which has been three months since those attacks, and this is a moment of profound tension in the region. This is a conflict that could easily metastasize, causing even more insecurity and even more suffering.
“So from day one, among other priorities, we have been intensely focused on working to prevent the conflict from spreading, and that is indeed a major focus of what is now my fourth visit to the region since October 7.
“It was at the heart of discussions yesterday with President Erdogan and Prime Minister Mitsotakis, this morning with King Abdullah in Jordan, and in the meetings that I just had with the Amir and with the prime minister.
“We share a commitment to ensure that the conflict does not expand, and I think we also share a commitment to use the influence, the relationships, the ties that have with different parties in the region to try to avoid escalation and to deter new fronts from opening. This is not just a regional issue; it’s a matter of global concern”.
Blinken pressed further that these attacks by the Houthis are hurting people around the world, most of all, the poorest and most vulnerable populations, including in Yemen, including in Gaza. “That’s why United States launched Operation with 20 countries to defend safety and security of commercial shipping across the Red Sea.
“It’s also why over a dozen countries have made clear that the Houthis will be held accountable for future attacks. Will continue to defend maritime security in the region as part of our overall effort to deter and prevent further regional conflict, to ensure the free flow of commerce that’s been so vital to people around the world”.
US Secretary of State expressed gratitude to Qatar for its instrumental role played in the negotiations that led to the simultaneous release of more than 100 hostages, including American citizens, and a pause in fighting that, during that time, enabled us to double the flow of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.
“We’re deeply grateful, Prime Minister, to you – to the Amir – for your ongoing leadership in this effort, for the tireless work which you undertook and that continues, to try to free the remaining hostages.
“To those still being held hostage, to their loved ones, to their families, I promise you this: The United States will continue to work relentlessly to bring you home, to get you together with your family and loved ones”, he made a vow in Qatar.
Speaking on Gaza, Blinken said that the United States have made some measurable progress in increasing the aid getting into Gaza, including through the opening of Kerem Shalom, but it is still insufficient to meet the massive need.
He noted that the barriers to getting aid to where it needs to go beyond Rafah remain far too high. Too many Palestinian civilians are suffering from insufficient access to food, to water, to medicine, to other essential supplies, children most of all.
“We continue to raise with Israel the need to do everything possible to facilitate provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and I will do so again when I’m there later this week. I will also raise the imperative of doing more to prevent civilian casualties. Far too many Palestinians, innocent Palestinians, have already been killed”.
Earlier, Qatari Prime Minister said meeting with US Secretary of State has been fruitful while discussed the most significant development in the region, on top of them, the war that continued for three month in Gaza and the Palestinian occupied territory, with all its political, humanitarian, and economic dimension.
He said, “Since the first day, the Qatari efforts worked closely with all partners international, regional and the United States on top of them, have worked in order to de-escalate and also take care of the humanitarian issues.
“And also the release of the hostages, and provide the assistance of – now 280 patients were evacuated to Doha, and we have seen 59 airplane carrying 58 ton of humanitarian assistance, including food aid, in order to support our Palestinian brothers.
“But unfortunately, despite all the international efforts and regional one, for the escalation and after and the containment after three month of the conflict, the war in Gaza still ongoing with more than 22,000 Palestinian have been killed, thousands and thousands of injuries, and the numbers are increasing.
“And not reaching an immediate ceasefire will the numbers will increase over the days. It is – here we have reduced to the images of the death and catastrophes, and women and children and civilians become numbers that we only read on the news or listen on the news”, Al Thani added.
The PM thanked United States for its support, ongoing support, for its efforts that focus now on reaching a true ceasefire and the release of the hostages. And we always look for a role for United States of America to put an end for this conflict.
“And also to reach a sustainable solution that gives the Palestinian people their right in – their own state. And we also look forward for more consultation on all different topics that we work together with your friendly country, and also to improve our bilateral relation in all aspect political, militarily, and economically”, he said.