Warned of the dangers of Houthi attacks.. Saudi Deputy Chief of Staff: Protecting the straits is a shared international responsibility

Deputy Chief of Staff of Saudi Arabia, Lieutenant General Fahd Al-Ghufaili, confirmed on Sunday that the safety of the straits and freedom of navigation are two pillars of stable international security, warning that Houthi attacks on commercial ships threaten maritime navigation.

Lieutenant General Fahd Al-Ghufaili added in his speech during the Manama Dialogue Forum held in Bahrain, “The seas must be a place for communication and prosperity, not arenas for conflict, and international straits must remain safe passages for navigation, not tools for political and military pressure, and international law must remain the reference to which we all turn when we disagree.”, according to video clips of his speech published by the Saudi Al-Ikhbariya channel via the “X” platform.

He went on to say: “In a world where uncertainties are increasing, the shared responsibility is to maintain the security of sea lanes, prevent escalation, and build, through dialogue, cooperation and mutual dependence, a safer and more stable maritime environment, in a way that serves the security of the countries of the region and protects the interests of the entire international community.”

Al-Ghufaili stressed that maritime security is not the responsibility of one country, freedom of navigation is not the interest of one party, and the protection and stability of the straits is not only a regional issue, but rather a shared international responsibility, requiring all of us to work in a spirit of partnership, adherence to international law, and give precedence to dialogue and wisdom over escalation and confrontation.

Lieutenant General Fahd Al-Ghufaili stressed in his speech: “The Houthi attacks on commercial ships and oil tankers from 2023 until now have demonstrated the seriousness of these threats to freedom of navigation, in conjunction with the disruption of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, which requires an effective collective response to protect vital sea lanes and enhance regional and international security and stability.”

He said, "The straits and sea lanes in the region gain double importance, as a heavy traffic of commercial ships and energy tankers passes through them daily. Hence, the threats to the vital sea lanes have become an international challenge that affects everyone's interests, as any disturbance in the Arabian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden has direct effects on the global economy, energy markets, international trade, food security, and supply chains."