Bab Al-Mandab vital to global trade, any threat impacts world economy: analyst

Political analyst Dr. Khaled Batarfi said the Bab Al-Mandab Strait is a vital artery for global trade, and any threat to navigation there directly affects the world economy.

Speaking in an interview with Al-Ikhbariya Radio, Batarfi noted that Saudi Arabia's statement regarding Houthi threats to navigation in Yemen, and its pledge to protect Saudi vessels and continue supporting the Yemeni people, combines safeguarding maritime routes with backing a political solution. He stressed that Yemen's future cannot be built on the logic of militias.

Batarfi added that Bab Al-Mandab is not just a passage for Yemen and regional countries, but any threat to it impacts global supply chains, as goods passing through the strait account for a quarter of world trade.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned statements by the so-called military spokesperson of the Houthi militia, who accused Saudi Arabia of besieging the Yemeni people and imposing a maritime blockade on the Kingdom.

In its statement, Saudi Arabia affirmed that over the past years it has worked with Yemen's legitimate government to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people, including ongoing development projects, supporting the Yemeni government budget, and providing fuel for power stations.

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