Biden-Harris Administration Fail: Damage to Global Shipping from Houthi Attacks Is Worsening
The Biden-Harris administration is facing mounting criticism as the Iran-backed Houthi attacks on global shipping routes escalate, causing severe disruptions and economic uncertainty. Shipping giant Maersk confirmed on Thursday that the ongoing disruptions, particularly along the crucial Red Sea shipping lane, are making global shipping increasingly costly and unpredictable.
Maersk’s statement revealed that its July warnings of a “cascading impact” from these attacks have come to fruition, affecting shipping lines far beyond the Red Sea. Traffic through the Suez Canal has plummeted by 66 percent since the onset of Houthi attacks, forcing many vessels to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa—a much longer and pricier route. The company also highlighted that “service reconfigurations and volume shifts” are straining global infrastructure, leading to port congestion, delays, and shortages of shipping capacity and equipment.
Maersk further expressed uncertainty about when normal shipping operations might resume, noting, “The timeline for easing these disruptions and returning to ‘normal’ remains uncertain.”
Failure of "Operation Prosperity Guardian"
The Red Sea crisis underscores a significant failure for the Biden-Harris administration, which pledged in December to lead a multinational military initiative, “Operation Prosperity Guardian,” to safeguard shipping lanes in the region. However, skepticism among shipping companies about President Biden’s plan has been validated by recent developments.
The situation was further highlighted on Tuesday when the European Union’s naval command, ASPIDES, admitted that a salvage operation to recover the burning oil tanker MV Sounion had been abandoned due to ongoing Houthi threats. The Sounion incident threatens to become an environmental disaster four times the size of the Exxon Valdez spill, yet salvage efforts have been impeded by the inability of Western forces to protect the recovery teams.
A U.S. defense official told the Associated Press that the U.S. military “has not been asked and has no role in the cleanup or towing of the Sounion,” and noted that no American naval vessels are currently in the Red Sea. The EU mission has taken charge of regional security, though with limited success.
Strategic and Economic Implications
Houthi attacks have not only disrupted shipping routes but have also become a powerful recruitment tool for the militant group. Matthew Bey, an analyst at the RANE Group, noted that the Houthis have been disseminating videos showing the Sounion burning while chanting “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.” Bey explained that this terror campaign is a “very significant recruiting boon” for the Houthis, reinforcing their anti-Western stance.
Bey cautioned that further Houthi attacks on global shipping are likely, as the group has realized that targeting vessels in strategic choke points draws Western attention, aligning with their broader anti-Western agenda.
Global Shipping Crisis Continues
As the global shipping industry grapples with the fallout from the Houthi attacks, the Biden administration faces increasing pressure to act decisively. The economic impact is already evident, with rising goods costs, strained supply chains, and escalating oil prices.
Unless swift and coordinated action is taken to secure vital shipping lanes and address the Houthi threat, the global economy may face further instability, and the U.S. risks further humiliation on the world stage.
Tag:
Biden-Harris , Administration Fail , Damage to Global Shipping , Houthi Attacks Is Worsening
, Damage to Global ,