Tension in international maritime trade has risen again after the Houthis threatened to block Bab el-Mandeb, a second major sea route following the already known problems in the Strait of Hormuz. This threat represents a new challenge for the global transportation of oil and goods.
Bab el-Mandeb is a strait located between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, representing the southern exit of the Red Sea. It is an essential passage for ships connecting Asia and Europe through the Suez Canal, which makes any threat of blockade in this area particularly concerning for the world economy.
The Houthis, a rebel group from Yemen, are responsible for advancing this blockade threat, at a time when tensions in the region were already elevated due to problems in the Strait of Hormuz, controlled by Iran. The strategic importance of this small point on the map is difficult to overestimate, given the massive amount of commercial traffic that passes through it annually.
