EU condemns Houthi threats to Saudi Arabia, warns of regional escalation

On July 23, the European Union condemned recent threats by Yemen's Houthis to impose a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia, saying they "pose a direct threat to regional stability and constitute a dangerous escalation."

"The attack on an oil tanker in the Red Sea is unacceptable, illegal, and further inflames an already volatile situation in the region. Navigation must be unimpeded, in the Strait of Hormuz as well as in the Red Sea," the EU's High Representative Kaja Kallas said in a statement.

The EU called on the Houthis to halt actions that endanger international shipping and seafarers, urging the group to comply with international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and UN Security Council resolutions on Yemen and freedom of navigation.

"The Houthis must cease all actions that endanger international shipping and the lives of seafarers," the statement said.

The bloc also reaffirmed its commitment to maritime security, saying its naval mission, Operation ASPIDES, "remains firmly committed to protecting freedom of navigation for all in the Red Sea and surrounding international waters, in line with its defensive mandate and Operation Plan."