Pakistan Urges Houthi Cessation of Red Sea Attacks at UN

Pakistan has formally called on Yemen's Houthi movement to immediately cease its attacks on commercial vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The appeal was delivered by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, during a Security Council session convened by Bahrain. Ahmad characterized the ongoing incidents as provocative actions that pose grave consequences for maritime security and regional peace.

The intervention highlights the growing diplomatic tension surrounding critical maritime chokepoints. According to the Pakistani diplomat, these attacks undermine the security of navigation and threaten the development of regional states, including Saudi Arabia. The statement was part of a broader discussion on the deteriorating situation in the Red Sea, which has become a focal point for international security concerns.

Security Council briefing details

The meeting followed a recent Security Council briefing that highlighted increasing instability around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari noted that the situation is becoming increasingly volatile and called for the restoration of navigational rights in accordance with international law. Bahrain’s representative, Jamal Fares Al-Rowaiei, described the Houthi escalation as a violation of the ceasefire, noting that it has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Yemen by forcing civilian displacement.

Saudi Arabia’s representative, Abdulaziz M. Al-Wasil, emphasized that the escalation threatens not only Yemen but also regional security, international trade, and global supply chains. In response, Ahmad reiterated the need for immediate de-escalation to ensure the safety of vessels and their crews. He also called for the restoration of normal passage through the Strait of Hormuz, linking the instability in these areas to broader economic disruptions.

Impact on global trade

Diplomats at the meeting drew attention to the tangible economic effects of the disruptions. Ahmad stated that instability at these maritime chokepoints has contributed to rising energy prices and heightened concerns about global food security. The disruption of commercial shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb and Strait of Hormuz has created ripple effects across international markets, prompting calls from multiple nations to protect these vital trade arteries.

Call for diplomatic restraint

China’s representative, Sun Lei, joined the discourse by calling on all parties to exercise restraint and return to negotiations. He stressed that protecting navigation in the Red Sea is a shared international responsibility rather than a unilateral issue. According to reports from GN geopolitics/un, the consensus among the delegates appears to be that diplomatic resolution is essential to preventing further escalation and ensuring the safety of global commerce.